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26 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
W I N T E R 20 1 6
CONFIDENCE IS NO TRICK
T
hrough the generations and
in various State jurisdictions,
helping clients to connect to the
grid has changed almost every year.
Certainly for those in Victoria it has
never been harder. The uneasy alliance
between retailer, meter installer,
distributor and inspector allows for all
sorts of delays and arguments.
However, the ‘renewable’ and
‘storage’ phenomenon makes it difficult
for us to remain detached.
Our industry’s reluctance to get
involved in the space between the
retailer and the client will cause us
to miss opportunities and not service
clients to our best ability. History has
shown that if we don’t move to ‘own’
this space we will miss out.
For established contractors the
potential market is huge and consumer
trust is substantial. We represent the
antithesis of a call centre operator, or
a sales person knocking on the door on
a Sunday afternoon, asking: “Do you
have solar power and would you like
a quote?”
This is not about a simple solar
installation, an LED upgrade, etc. It’s
the ‘barbecue’ talking point around the
country – batteries.
Electrical contractors have a major
role to play in this sector. Consumers
need our people to correctly explain,
size and install the systems.
A call centre or a glib YouTube
presentation will not give the client
an appropriate solution. Here is a test:
this week at footy training, around
the water cooler or at the barbecue,
ask friends and family what they think
a battery connected to their solar
generation system will provide?
The responses will be that it will:
>
reduce power bills;
>
provide power when the grid is down;
>
allow disconnection from the grid.
These are all wrong. Perception
is the key, with all forms of media
suggesting that the battery revolution
will offer the above benefits.
Our industry should be ready to help
domestic, commercial and industrial
clients to understand that not all
battery systems on the market will
supply voltage when the grid is
down (as an uninterruptible power
supply does).
Depending on the tariff chosen, and
the time/use of grid vs. solar power,
there is no guarantee that the client’s
power bill will go down, or that the
premises can go off grid.
Our experience and understanding
of our clients’ power usage is
paramount here. No call centre can
understand how a certain household
works – or how, for example, a
distribution business might use
its electricity.
Looking at an account from the
energy retailer is usually only half
the story. A direct understanding of
how clients work and live makes the
electrical contractor the best person
to advise on an energy retailer and
choice of tariff.
Why would a client take a call at
8pm at home and be talked into a
30% discount of their current energy
account? What does the offer mean –
30% off the KwH usage or off the
total account?
Our clients need to understand that
we, their trusted family electrical
contractor has value here.
Is it worth the energy retailers
‘partnering’ with our industry to
provide a better link with the ultimate
client? I suspect they would not rush
into it. We might provide too much
clarity on the issue. (For example, one
of my family members changed energy
retailer for two tickets to ‘gold class’ at
the cinema.)
Having said all of this, I must
add that contractors will need the
appropriate skills. Clear, solid advice
based on good training is crucial,
otherwise we will be swamped by
call-centre aligned businesses using
unlicensed labour. NECA training
GIVEN THEIR SUPERIOR
KNOWLEDGE AND CONSUMER
TRUST, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
CAN PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
WES (I’MJUSTANELECTRICIAN)
MCKNIGHT
EXPLAINS.
MCKNIGHT ON THE TOWN