Pilot lessons from the first sixty homes
The second Lessons Learnt Report details things we discovered from Stage 1 of the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot. The focus is on customer engagement, installation processes, technology deployment, and supply chain management.
Insights
These insights from the first 60 homes will help improve the pilot for the Main Rollout.
The main findings were:
Recruitment: The pilot attracted strong interest, with over 600 eligible households applying, demonstrating significant demand for electrification solutions.
Tradies: The 13 installers onboarded helped build capacity. The installers were able to meet demand in the initial rollout but more installers with diverse specialisations need to be recruited to support larger-scale deployment.
Deployment: 60 homes were fitted with efficient electric appliances and smart energy devices, also known as Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). Installer experience improved installation times and quote accuracy, highlighting the value of ongoing training and process refinement.
Network visibility: Endeavour Energy installed 40 distribution substation monitors to collect local voltage and power quality data, providing critical insights for managing grid impacts of increased electrification.
Customer support and communication: Clear, consistent information flow between installers and participants proved essential. Multiple human support channels were necessary to maintain participant satisfaction and address queries effectively.
Energy retailer engagement : Energy retailers were engaged to gauge interest in collaborating as the program scales.
Demand for home batteries: The pilot identified significant demand for home battery systems, with anticipated federal funding expected to accelerate uptake.
In conclusion, the pilot underscores the importance of integrated customer support, robust installer networks, and enhanced grid visibility to enable successful electrification at scale. These lessons will inform the planned expansion in further stages, supporting Australia’s broader transition to a smart, low-emissions energy future.
Read more about the the pilot research approach and our findings so far on the Electrify 2515 website.
