Reduce your energy use. Help the grid and your community. Be rewarded.
Small changes can have a big impact. And when events occur that put pressure on the energy grid, we call on our members to help ensure there’s enough energy for their community – and reward them to say thanks.
Joining the Peak Energy Rewards Program is voluntary, and means you’ll join a community of like-minded people who don’t mind making small changes around the house to reduce their energy consumption during peak events. Not only do these small changes ensure energy is affordable and reliable when we all need it most, they also establish sustainable long-term habits that benefit the community in the long run.
Peak events are times when, because of weather or other circumstances, there’s a high demand for energy on the grid. Peak events usually only last from one to three hours.
We’ll text you when a peak event is scheduled so you’re in the loop, and if you opt-in, you can choose to reduce or shift your usage for the duration of the event. That might mean adjusting your air-conditioner a few degrees or waiting until the event has passed to use appliances like a washing machine or electric oven. See more small ways to make big differences.
After an event is over, we’ll send you an email report of your usage and reward you with bill credits if you meet your energy reduction targets.
Participation in events is voluntary. We’ll send an SMS asking if you’ll participate, and you simply need to reply YES to confirm you’re in.
In 2022-2023, more than 100,000 Peak Energy Rewards members were able to reduce demand on the grid and achieve the following:
Here are some simple changes you could make to meet the target. Visit AGL's Saver Centre hub for more ideas.
For peak events, you can earn up to $10 in bill credits for every 2-3 hour event and $5 in bill credits for every 1 hour event*, when you reach your energy reduction targets.
AGL Peak Energy Rewards is a program which aims to reduce electricity demand during peak times and improve grid stability. From 1 December each year, participating customers will be notified by AGL when the electricity grid is experiencing high demand.
As of December 2021, the program will be changing from a summer initiative to an all-year-round proposition. This means events can take place throughout the year maximising our ability to reduce demand during peak times.
Eligible participants will be invited to voluntarily reduce their energy usage to decrease demand on the electricity grid, and in return, will be rewarded with credits towards their electricity bill.
Demand response is when electricity consumers temporarily shift or reduce their energy consumption in response to high demand on the grid. It’s used successfully in lots of countries around the world to manage peak demand and the risks it causes – such as power outages.
Rather than relying on these solutions, we work together to collectively reduce how much electricity is being used. It’s cheaper and more efficient, with various retailers getting on board to make this initiative impactful.
It’s difficult to predict the number of events. This is because events can be triggered by unplanned occurrences like extreme weather, supply issues and network constraints.
Peak events can run from one to three hours. We’ll notify you when an event is going to happen and how long it will last.
Yes, they can.
You’ll be asked to voluntarily reduce your energy usage during a peak event period to decrease demand on the electricity grid. You will receive energy reduction targets (in order of increasing levels of reduction) prior to the peak event period.
If you meet your energy reduction targets for each peak event, you’ll be rewarded with incentives in the form of a credit on your AGL electricity bill.
All participants should prioritise their personal wellbeing and circumstances, and that of other members of their household, prior to participation.
Participation in a peak event is entirely optional. If you choose to participate, you will decide how much to reduce your electricity usage by during the peak event.
No, all you need is a compatible digital meter to participate.
Within seven business days of an event, we’ll let you know how much energy you and the Peak Energy Rewards community saved, as well as any rewards you earned.
You can also view your peak event usage in AGL's My Account or the AGL Energy app.
You will be notified by SMS if an event has been cancelled.
If an event is rescheduled, you will receive an SMS with the new time for the event.
Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy, there may be times when renewable energy will not be able to cover high demand periods. Currently, fast acting generators like gas and diesel plants are used as backups during these times. If demand response is used effectively, there will be less need to use fossil fuels as backup, reducing the production of climate changing carbon emissions.
Event reduction targets are set prior to the event and are based on what we consider to be realistic targets, based on your historical data. If you have recently joined AGL or switched to a digital meter, we’ll set your target based on the usage of other similar households. The targets that we set for you will change from event to event. If you feel that the targets we have set for you are not realistic, please let us know by emailing us at peakenergyrewards@agl.com.au.
You will be rewarded for reducing your energy usage to the pre-set targets, calculated as an average across the peak event. The targets will be available in a SMS we send you prior to the peak event.
You’ll be notified of your overall reduction and credits earned after each event via email.
AGL uses a formula based on your typical usage history to forecast how much energy you would normally have used during peak events. After this number is normalised for variables such as weather, time and day, AGL then subtracts your actual usage to determine how much energy you saved.
There are many small measures you can take to reduce your energy usage, including:
Your energy reduction targets will be set prior to the event and will be in the SMS we send you. It will set out the reduction you need to make to receive your maximum available incentives.
As part of the AGL Peak Energy Rewards program, you will be rewarded with bill credits if you reduce your energy usage during the peak event to the target level(s) of reduction. You will not be rewarded if you reduce energy usage outside of the peak event period.
Please note, reducing your energy usage during peak events as part of the AGL Peak Energy Rewards is entirely optional. Choosing to not join in an event will not affect future opportunities to participate.
You don’t need to be at home. You might decide to leave the home to use less energy. If your electricity usage falls below the pre-set targets, you will receive your credits whether you are at home or not during the peak event.
If you have been away for a short while, this is unlikely to affect the estimates that we use to determine your energy reduction targets.
The credits you earn can vary between each peak event because it is not only dependent on the efforts you took to reduce your usage on that particular day, but it also factors in what your typical usage based on your historical data (excluding holidays, weekends and previous peak events).
For customers that are already very efficient energy users, the ability to lower their usage even further during peak events may not be as easy. One potential way to save would be to turn your air conditioner up a few degrees from where you usually have it. You can also delay the use of appliances and lighting to reduce your usage.
No, you will not be penalised in any way. However, if you do choose to participate, you can earn bill credits on your AGL electricity bill for reducing your electricity use during peak events to the level of reduction specified.
AGL Peak Energy Rewards is available to current AGL customers in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland with a digital ‘smart’ meter.
Participants must be a residential owner or tenant responsible for the electricity supply at your address and remain an AGL electricity account holder for the duration of the Program.
Not sure if you have a digital meter installed? Email us at peakenergyrewards@agl.com.au.
Registrations will be open from September each year and close when the required number of eligible participants is confirmed.
Once you are confirmed for the program, we’ll send you the full program details in the form of a welcome pack. This will include information about peak events.
Yes. AGL’s Peak Energy Rewards is only available to existing AGL electricity customers at this stage.
It’s simple to get involved in AGL’s Peak Energy Rewards program and save on your AGL energy bill:
Your rewards will be shown as “Peak Energy Rewards Credit” on your AGL electricity bill. We won’t be able to apply the credit if your bill arrives in the same week as an event. In this case we will apply your credit to the following bill.
Your financial credits summary will be available in the link we send you after each peak event^. It will show the cumulative credits on your bill. If you have a query around this figure, please email us at peakenergyrewards@agl.com.au.
You will receive a personalised notification of your energy reduction within the email we send you after each event. Details of your bill credit will be displayed on your AGL bill. We won’t be able to apply the credit if your bill arrives in the same week as an event. In this case we will apply your credit to the following bill.
To be eligible to participate in the program you need to be an AGL customer. If you switch electricity providers unfortunately you will no longer be eligible to participate in the program.
If you no longer want to be part of the program, you can exit by letting us know by emailing peakenergyrewards@agl.com.au.
There’s no further action required beyond notifying us, and no early termination or exit fees are applicable.
If you’re planning on moving, please contact us and let us know your future address. If it’s in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia or Queensland we can check if your new property has a compatible digital meter and if you’re still eligible to participate.
* $5 is the maximum available credit per 1 hour event. $10 is the maximum available credit per 2-3 hour event for reaching pre-set energy reduction targets. Targets will be set for your individual property prior to each event and may differ with each event.
#Calculation based on an average annual household consumption of 5.5MWh which has been derived from the AEC residential electricity use and customer numbers per state for FY2021 (Electricity Gas Australia 2022).
