Qld readies mandatory pool pump control

Comment on the impact statement until November 13.

The Queensland Government, though the Office of Clean Energy, has released a regulatory impact statement (RIS) for the mandatory load control of pool filtration systems.

By controlling when pool owners can run their swimming pool pumps, the government hopes to better manage peak electricity loads.

The measures outlined in the document are expected to reduce peak electricity demand and improve the sustainability of Queensland's electricity network infrastructure. The RIS proposes that pool filtration systems for new household swimming pools in Queensland be required to connect to an off-peak tariff. The government plans to amend the Queensland Development Code to mandate the measure on new swimming pools built from 1 July 2010.

Peak demand, or the amount of electricity necessary to supply a large number of customers concurrently, is the key driver of increased electricity network infrastructure expenditure.

Approximately 11 per cent of distribution network capacity is built to meet a level of demand which only occurs for approximately one per cent of the time. As peak load continues to grow, costly network upgrades must be undertaken to meet demand and this expenditure is ultimately passed onto all customers through electricity prices.

By 2020 the proposal is projected to avoid up to 60 megawatts of peak electricity demand which represents capital infrastructure savings of $188 million over this period. The proposal is expected to save the average pool owner $180 a year on what their pool would have otherwise cost to run.

The Queensland Government is seeking feedback from all members of the community and industry sectors most affected by the proposal.