In the first six months of 2013, electricity consumption in Australia was 2.5% lower than in the first six months of 2012. The most significant decrease was witnessed in NSW where electricity consumption fell by 4.3%. Victoria, Queensland and South Australia each fell by 2.0%, 1.8% and 1.3% respectively whereas Tasmania's consumption increased by 3.5%.
A considerable portion of this reduction in electricity consumption can be attributed to the estimated 650GWh generated in the first half of 2013 by more than 910MW of rooftop solar panels which came from systems installed in the NEM states during 2012. This has been calculated to account for as much as 26% of the reduction in electricity consumption.
The energy generated by rooftop solar PV systems combined with energy from other distributed energy efficiency activities supported through government legislated market-based schemes are estimated to account for 1,100 GWh of electricity demand reduction, which is equivalent to 44% of the reduced consumption.
Figures show that fuel generated by coal and gas has decreased in the first six months of 2013, compared to the same time period in the year prior, and that wind generation and hydro generation have each increased their outputs. This can largely be attributed to the commissioning of the 420MW Macarthur wind farm in Victoria as well as the increases in output from the Snowy and Tasmanian hydro systems.
Renewable energy sources have thus increased their market share from 7.9% in the first six months of 2012 to 10.3% in the first half of 2013.
The continual decline in the demand for electricity along with the increase in energy generated by renewable energy sources will cut the cost of household electricity bills, as studies commissioned by Meridian Energy have shown. Savings could differ from state to state, however results of the study showed that nationally, households would end up ahead, saving an average of 12 a year on energy bills.
