sub018 moreland energy foundation attachment

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Community EmPOWERment

Final Research Report

For Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd

Authors:

Christopher Riedy, Erin Wilson, Helen Cheney, Keith Tarlo

Institute for Sustainable Futures

( UTS October, 2004

Disclaimer

While all due care and attention has been taken to establish the accuracy of the material published, UTS/ISF and the authors disclaim liability for any loss that may arise from any person acting in reliance upon the contents of this document.

Research Report_Final

12/11/04 9:39 AM

The Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) was established by the University of Technology, Sydney in 1996 to work with industry, government and the community to develop sustainable futures through research, consultancy and training. Sustainable futures result from economic and social development that protects and enhances the environment, human well-being and social equity.

Where possible, we adopt an approach to our work that is inter-disciplinary and participatory. We aim to engage with our partners, funding agencies and clients in a co-operative process that emphasises strategic decision-making. The results are client-directed relevant solutions that work.

Readers wishing to obtain more information could contact ISF on (02) 9209 4350 or at isf@uts.edu.au. The ISF website can be visited at www.isf.uts.edu.au.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding provided by the National Consumers Electricity Advocacy Panel and the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre for this research project.

We would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions of the Research Reference Group (RRG), comprising Esther Abram of Moreland Energy Foundation Limited, Andrew Nance of the Conservation Council of South Australia and Jim Wellsmore of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). The authors would like to thank the members of the RRG for their timely and insightful comments. Andrew gets the credit for coming up with the project name Community EmPOWERment.

Staff members at the Institute for Sustainable Futures and Moreland Energy Foundation Limited have made valuable contributions to this research project. At the Institute for Sustainable Futures, we would like to acknowledge contributions by Geoff Milne, Natalina Nheu, Ann Hobson. At Moreland Energy Foundation, we would like to acknowledge contributions from Anna Strempel, Euan Williamson, Khadiga Hamed and Kerry Wise, who all assisted with facilitation and note taking at workshops. Anna also implemented the Cent-A-Meter trial.

Several colleagues in Australia and overseas helped the Institute to identify relevant literature, including Alan Pears, Sally Moxham, Ian Porter, Nigel Isaacs, Gill Owen and Andrea Sharam.

AGL provided and installed Cent-A-Meters for the metering trial, free of charge.

Finally, and most importantly, we would like to acknowledge the contributions of all those who gave of their time and knowledge to participate in the Community EmPOWERment workshops and interviews.

Table of Contents

ixAbbreviations

xiExecutive Summary

11Introduction

11.1Background

21.2Report structure

42Literature Review

42.1Methodology

42.1.1Sources of literature

42.1.2Literature selection criteria

52.1.3Literature evaluation criteria

52.2Annotated bibliography

52.2.1Australian literature

122.2.2International literature

202.2.3Specific research on disadvantaged households

233Research design

233.1Theoretical framework

233.1.1Individual behaviour or social construction of demand?

243.1.2Participatory action research

253.2Research questions

273.3Research methods in the literature

273.3.1Surveys

273.3.2Interviews

283.3.3Group discussion (focus groups)

283.3.4Market segmentation

283.4Research methods adopted for this project

283.4.1Stakeholder interviews

293.4.2Householder workshops

303.4.3CENT-A-METER( trials

324Workshop Design

324.1Critical reference group and sampling strategy

324.2Workshop structure

334.2.1Introduction

344.2.2Practical education session

354.2.3Session on policy options

354.2.4Workshop evaluation and wrap-up

354.3Workshop materials

354.3.1Participation agreements

354.3.2Demographic data form

364.3.3Workshop plan

364.3.4Fact sheets for participants

364.3.5Facilitators pack

374.4Selection and description of policy options

374.4.1Better Information

384.4.2Billing and Pricing

404.4.3Incentives

414.4.4Disclosure

414.4.5Regulation

424.4.6Community Support

434.5Participant recruitment

434.5.1Develop and distribute request for expressions of interest

444.5.2Negotiation and direct recruitment

444.6Data collection

455Research Findings

455.1Limitations of the research

455.1.1Sample distribution

465.1.2Complexity of technical policy options

465.1.3Sensitivity to magnitude of costs and benefits

465.2Workshop summaries

475.2.1Northern Migrant Resource Centre, Coburg, Victoria (V1)

485.2.2The Avenue Neighbourhood House, Blackburn, Victoria (V2)

505.2.3Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal Project, Chadstone, Victoria (V3)

525.2.4Migrant Information Centre, Mitcham, Victoria (V4)

535.2.5Public workshop, Coburg, Victoria (V5)

545.2.6Indigenous workshop, Ringwood, Victoria (V6)

565.2.7Public workshop, Ballarat, Victoria (V7)

585.2.8Arabic-speaking womens group, Fawkner, Victoria (V8)

605.2.9Salvation Army workshop, Brunswick, Victoria (V9)

625.2.10Bondi/Waverley ECHO discussion group, Waverley, NSW (N1)

635.2.11Harris Community Centre (Chinese speakers), Ultimo, NSW (N2)

655.2.12Harris Community Centre (English speakers), Ultimo, NSW (N3)

665.3Policy options

665.3.1Voting results

695.3.2Better information

695.3.3Billing and pricing

705.3.4Incentives

715.3.5Disclosure

715.3.6Regulation

725.3.7Community support

725.4Thematic analysis of workshop data on electricity use

725.4.1Social/cultural factors of householder electricity use

745.4.2Barriers to householder electricity reduction

765.4.3Issues for the disadvantaged

785.5Demographic summary

805.6Interview findings

805.6.1VCOSS Energy Group

805.6.2Essential Services Commission (Victoria)

805.6.3Consumer advocacy groups

825.6.4Electricity retailer

835.6.5Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW

835.7Results of Cent-A-Meter trials

835.7.1Participant One

845.7.2Participant Two

855.7.3Participant Three

865.7.4Other findings

865.7.5Workshop comments

876Regulatory Review

876.1National energy policy

876.2The National Framework for Energy Efficiency

876.3National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Program

886.4Productivity Commission Inquiry

886.5National Electricity Law

886.6National Electricity Code

886.7State regulatory arrangements

896.8Deregulated electricity sector

896.9Electricity concessions

906.10Housing legislation

906.11Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy

917Discussion: Responses to Research Questions, Implications and Recommendations

917.1Research Question One

917.1.1The importance of social, cultural and economic factors impacting on electricity use

917.1.2Summary of social, cultural and economic factors

947.1.3The impact of social relations on energy use

957.2Research Question Two

967.2.1Increased and targeted education

977.2.2Train-the-trainer

977.2.3Metering and feedback

987.2.4Billing and pricing

997.2.5Incentives and rebates

1007.2.6Managing peak demand

1007.3Research Question Three

1017.3.1Concessions for low income and disadvantaged householders

1027.3.2EasyPay

1027.3.3Public housing policy

1037.3.4Private rental accommodation regulation

1037.3.5Support for migrants and refugees.

1037.3.6Second-hand appliances

1047.4Research Question Four

1057.5Research Question Five

1057.5.1National Framework for Energy Efficiency

1067.5.2National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Program

1067.5.3The National Electricity Law

1077.5.4State regulatory arrangements

1087.5.5Tariff structures

1087.5.6Delivery of concessions

1087.5.7Public housing policy

1097.5.8Housing legislation

1097.5.9Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy

1097.5.10New programs

1117.6Recommendations for further research

1117.6.1Research with high consumption households

1117.6.2Detailed research on specific options

1117.6.3Interval meter trials

1127.6.4Concessions research

1138References

Appendices

Appendix A: Participation Agreements

Appendix B: Metering Trial Questionnaire

Appendix C: Householder Workshop Plan

Appendix D: Demographic Data Form

Appendix E: Information Pack for Participants

Appendix F: Facilitators Pack

Appendix G: Recruitment Materials

List of Tables

29Table 1: List of research interviews.

30Table 2: List of research workshops.

33Table 3: Sample agenda for a two-hour householder