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Power Companies Could Remotely Switch Off Electric Vehicle Chargers To Reduce Grid Stress
Epoch Times ^ | 07/30/2023 | Daniel Yeng

Posted on 07/30/2023 8:56:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Energy providers could have the option to switch off home EV charging stations remotely to reduce pressure on Queensland’s electricity grid.

The proposal is part of the Australian state’s Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), which provides a framework for the grid’s operation.

Section 8 of the QECM proposes that EV charging equipment may be limited or switched off by operators Ergon Energy and Energex (distributed network service providers or DNSPs) if it has an output of more than 20 amps—a standard domestic single-phase EV charger uses 32 amps.

The use of such “demand management” schemes is largely unique to Queensland and is also used on residential pool cleaning machines, hot water systems, and air conditioning units under the Peaksmart program.

Peaksmart gives households a cash rebate; in return, the operator can turn off air conditioners remotely during peak operating times (summer) to reduce pressure on the energy grid.

The large-scale roll-out of such programs has been earmarked as a potential catalyst to close down coal-fired power stations faster—amid the net zero push—and to, instead, adopt more intermittent renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and battery.

Confidence Towards Net Zero’s Viability is Low: MP

Federal Nationals MP Keith Pitt, himself an electrical engineer, says a proposal to use demand management on EV charging reveals that operators have little confidence the grid can handle the uptake of electric cars expected in the push towards net zero.

“EV take-up could increase peak demand by as much as 60 percent right across the National Electricity Market,” Mr. Pitt told The Epoch Times.

“That would mean you need a 60 percent increase in generating electricity capacity, transmission, and distribution. So that’s every substation, every cable, every supply point, every house—it will cost an absolute fortune.”

The federal Labor government has set a lofty goal of having 3.8 million EVs on the road by 2030—there are currently 83,000 in use.

Further, the government is also pushing to expand the charging network, aiming for 100,000 for businesses, 3.8 million chargers in households, and 1,800 publicly available fast chargers.

The initiative comes as part of a wider push towards net zero by 2050 and to reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030. Further, the Labor government hopes to have 82 percent of the National Electricity Market powered by renewables.

Advocacy Groups Push Back Against Proposal

Advocacy groups have argued against a demand management system saying it will dampen enthusiasm for EVs.

“We know from surveys that average consumers aren’t particularly keen on mandated orchestration of their appliances,” says the Electric Vehicle Council in its submission on the QECM (pdf).

“The Peaksmart program enlists between 10,000 and 15,000 air conditioning units for orchestration each year … out of a total of about 300,000 that get installed. About 95 percent of consumers prefer retaining control of their air conditioning, overtaking the financial incentives on offer.”

Meanwhile, Melissa McAuliffe, acting director of energy services at Energy Consumers Australia, says it would erode consumer trust that the “energy system is working for them.”

“Our 2023 Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey finds that only 35 percent of households are confident that the energy industry and regulators are working in their long-term interests now,” she wrote in a submission (pdf).

Further, such measures are unlikely to be completely effective for consumers or the system, as consumers may look to workarounds that circumvent giving DNSPs control. For example, through disincentivising the use of EV chargers, consumers may just use regular power points.”


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; chargers; chargingstations; electricity; ev; evs; globalwarminghoax; grid; power; queensland
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1 posted on 07/30/2023 8:56:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Remote controlled lockdowns.

Who’d have thunk?


2 posted on 07/30/2023 9:02:45 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: SeekAndFind

That’ll save a call to the fire department.


3 posted on 07/30/2023 9:06:25 PM PDT by sasquatch
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To: SeekAndFind

You live in California, Gavin Newsom can shut down the electricity to your neighborhood so you can’t recharge your EV.


4 posted on 07/30/2023 9:09:19 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: SeekAndFind

My tiny wee violin is at the cleaners


5 posted on 07/30/2023 9:35:10 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: SeekAndFind

6 posted on 07/30/2023 9:36:24 PM PDT by 4Liberty (Dems loot & riot -called "protesting" by media. Repub's protest -called "looting & rioting" by media)
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To: SeekAndFind

It will happen here, too. The power company can already switch off compressors on A/Cs for homes (if the consumer is stupid enough to agree to it).


7 posted on 07/30/2023 9:46:13 PM PDT by Gaffer ( )
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To: All

All part of the plan.

Why do you think ‘they’ are mandating electric stoves, electric water heaters etc.?
Why they started installing ‘smart meters’ where the electricity feeds into your homes and workplaces?


8 posted on 07/30/2023 9:59:33 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: SeekAndFind

Good. Let them shut down EV chargers.

I look forward to seeing the liberal hipsters that drive the POSs going into hysterics when they can’t charge their toy cars.

I can only imagine the sob story articles....Mary, who works for a “non-profit(that only gives 10% of the take to the needs of the non-profit)”, purchased her Tesla 6 months ago so she could help stop the climate Armageddon that is upon us. Now she either has to get a ride to work from a co-worker or take public transportation, with the very same people that her “non-profit” is supposed to be helping. She doesn’t like that. She says the buses and trains are stinky and too crowded. Afterall, she doesn’t really care about the people her “non-profit” is supposed to be helping, she just likes her inflated paycheck and being able to tell folks about all the people she helps.


9 posted on 07/30/2023 10:04:01 PM PDT by qaz123
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To: SeekAndFind

That would be hilarious!


10 posted on 07/30/2023 10:09:26 PM PDT by TigersEye (Woke is a cancer of the mind and humanity)
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To: SeekAndFind

You plug in your mandated electric car at home to charge up for work tomorrow. The power company disconnects the charger during the night and the car never charges up.

You get in the car and it does not have enough ‘range’ to get to work. You call the boss and explain and he says get to work or lose your job....


11 posted on 07/30/2023 10:09:59 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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To: SeekAndFind

Easy way to off people in an emergency sutuation.


12 posted on 07/30/2023 10:45:13 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose GOD is the LORD. (Psalm 33:12))
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s all about control of
your freedoms, folks.
Sooner or later, this is coming
to a head.
I’m not a preppy by any means.
but the writing is on the walls.


13 posted on 07/31/2023 12:59:05 AM PDT by Lean-Right (Eat More Moose)
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To: Gaffer

“The power company can already switch off compressors on A/Cs for homes (if the consumer is stupid enough to agree to it.”

They are putting rationing capability in place with or without consent. Just before Covid the local electric power company changed the exterior electric meters at every house in my neighborhood to “smart” meters that can be read and controlled remotely. These smart meters give the power company the ability to switch off the power at any individual home without notice or consent.

Since then I have been bombarded with phone calls asking me to join the “voluntary” power management program to help save the planet. In addition I receive mailings at least once a month from the electric company offering smart thermostats and other in home green energy and power management systems at a significant discount. Plus I receive calls and mailings every few weeks asking me to take advantage of the power company’s free energy audit where the company will send someone out to thoroughly evaluate energy usage in my home, and make recommendations for improvements. The power company assures me it has “certified” contractors to perform the work.

It is clear there is an agenda to put in place mechanisms to control energy consumption in people’s homes remotely. The electric power production and distribution capability in this nation is insufficient to supply the renewable electric future government is mandating and there is no plan or program to put in place the infrastructure to supply the required capacity. Some sort of electricity rationing system will be needed. It seems a plan is being enacted to ration electric supply at the individual level, not rely on area wide brownouts and blackouts.

The evidence is strong my electric provider, on its own or at the insistence of government, is putting in place the technology and infrastructure to forcibly ration electric supply, and therefore consumption at the individual private home at any time. Blackouts and brownouts can be micro managed. Bureaucrats can determine the permitted household consumption per household and limit daily supply in a house or apartment to that amount. Going one step farther, electric consumption of the individual can be tied to the person’s ESG score. High scoring people receive a larger allocation of scarce energy. Dissidents, with low ESG scores receive less electricity.

Plug your electric vehicle into a smart charging station at the grocery store. It communicates with a central database. If it finds your house is exceeding the allowed consumption for the month, the smart charging station will decline to charge your vehicle.

Think about it. The electric company makes money by selling more electricity. Yet at a time when electric demand is growing rapidly, electric companies are closing fossil fuel generating plants while investing millions in systems and infrastructure to control and limit consumption. The investment in green power production nationally is insufficient to replace fossil fuels, much less handle increasing demand. This would not happen in a free market economy. More evidence we are in a socialist managed economy.

Look forward to a future where you open windows on hot days and wear coats and long underwear in the house on cold days. Where you use public transportation whenever possible because your electricity allocation will only be sufficient for a few short personal electric vehicle trips locally per month. No more Sunday drives in the country or cross country vacation drives to see Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. RV’s are a memory. Even travel on public transportation will be rationed tightly for average citizens, particularly long distance travel. After all a Zoom call is just as good as a visit to your sister or parents. Plus the state will use AI to monitor your Zoom call and end it if you are spreading misinformation.


14 posted on 07/31/2023 2:06:12 AM PDT by Soul of the South (The past is gone and cannot be changed. Tomorrow can be a better day if we work on it.)
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To: Soul of the South

“Look forward to a future where you open windows on hot days and wear coats and long underwear in the house on cold days. Where you use public transportation whenever possible because your electricity allocation will only be sufficient for a few short personal electric vehicle trips locally per month. “


This would be a best case scenario.

they have been open about their agenda to force people out of detached homes, and ban private ownership of vehicles.


15 posted on 07/31/2023 2:09:17 AM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: SeekAndFind

And this is why they want everything electric and “smart”.

“You have used your monthly ration of energy. You will be able to use energy again next month, which is only 8 days from now.”


16 posted on 07/31/2023 3:17:46 AM PDT by motor_racer ("We're gonna punish our enemies, and we're gonna reward our friends" - Barak Hussein Obama)
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To: Soul of the South

I couldn’t have said it better myself! I get frustrated when I tell people I know why I don’t believe in the climate scam, and what the elites will do to us if we “grin and bear it.” They still think I’m a kooky conspiracy theorist, even as the elites themselves provide proof of the conspiracies, such as this...


17 posted on 07/31/2023 3:19:39 AM PDT by Big Brother Go to Hell
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To: SeekAndFind

OOOO...rush right out and buy a vehicle you can’t charge on demand or drive when you need to.

Thats smart...

I will not feel sorry one bit for anyone so stranded.

[I know...it sounds akin to last century’s “Get a horse!”]


18 posted on 07/31/2023 3:36:57 AM PDT by Adder (ALL Democrats are the enemy. NO QUARTER!!)
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To: Reverend Wright

The climate scam is ironically both a communist and a plutocrat conspiracy. Die hard Bolsheviks see “climate change” as an excuse to impose collectivism long after the collapse of Soviet socialism discredited Marx’s economic dogmas. The establishment “solutions” to “global warming” mean far more crime, disease, filth, hunger, overcrowding, poverty, terrorism, and tyranny for the common people.

Genuine economic exploiters play modern Marxists for tools.
The robber barons import cheap third world “migrant” labor to drive down wages. When first world breadwinners can no longer afford “luxuries” such as air conditioning, airline travel, cars, meat, and suburban homes, the elite media will say, “Those things cause ‘climate change,’ so you should be happy to sacrifice for Mother Earth and do without them!”


19 posted on 07/31/2023 3:39:15 AM PDT by Big Brother Go to Hell
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To: SeekAndFind

Nobody charges their EV near their home, cause the EV can overheat and burst into flames.

So now, thieves can stop by any home and take the catalytic converter, or swipe your charging cable and setup


20 posted on 07/31/2023 3:53:35 AM PDT by Steven Tyler
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