Victoria invests in power monitoring technology

Up to 1000 Victorian homes will be able to monitor and access their own power usage under a new initiative funded by the state government.

Energy software developer Geli Australia has received $850,000 to develop a monitoring and control system through round two of the government’s New Energy Jobs Fund.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Victorians to learn more about their energy consumption and the benefits new energy technologies can provide,” Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“Projects such as this one illustrate how our New Energy Jobs Fund is helping create more jobs and deliver affordable, reliable and clean energy for Victorians.

“It’s like having an energy expert in your own home – households will receive vital information on their energy use and advice about improving efficiency, ultimately saving them money on their electricity bills.”

The $3.18 million project will see Geli Australia work with Flextronics to locally manufacture and install purpose built systems which will enable residents access to their own power usage.

Participating households are expected to have their electricity bills reduced by up to 10 per cent initially and will also be able to use the information provided by the system to decide whether energy storage is feasible, based on their electricity consumption.

This project is expected to generate up to seven ongoing full-time jobs and more than 80 indirect jobs.

The fund offers grants of between $20,000 and $1 million to support new energy technology projects that will increase the uptake of renewable energy, reduce emissions, and assist community groups to develop their own projects.

More than 50 applications were received in round two of the fund, resulting in 21 successful projects receiving more than $6 million in grants.

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