The AER has released a report prepared by the University of Wollongong (UoW), Consumer Benefits of Improved Voltage Management Project Report.
This report examines the impacts of distribution network service providers (DNSPs) maintaining a supply voltage magnitude above the nominal value of 230V in low voltage networks and considers the potential consumer benefits if the supply voltage magnitude is lowered to 230V. The report provides a summary of voltage management challenges, helps to understand how supply voltages affect consumer appliance lives, consumer demand and consumer energy resources. It also identifies limitations to the proposed methodology and recommends next steps.
AER was asked to oversee this study and deliver a report on overvoltage to the Consumer Energy Resources taskforce. The project was originally proposed by the Energy Security Board (ESB) and is an input for two items on the National Consumer Energy Resources Roadmap.
The AER has also published an accompanying paper, which provides background on why the UoW report was developed, highlights key aspects of the UoW report to note when considering the potential costs and benefits of voltage management, and reflects on the suggested actions from the UoW report in the context of DNSPs seeking to expand their voltage management capabilities.
For further information refer to the UoW report and AER accompanying paper.