Why use SPCs?
'Standby power' is power consumed when your appliances are not in use, but sitting idle in ‘standby’ mode. This is often seen in your audio-visual appliances (TVs, music / home entertainment systems, DVD players, set top boxes, etc.) and IT equipment (computers, printers, modems, scanners, etc).
Standby power accounts for about $50 in your annual energy use costs. SPCs eliminate this wasted energy user and save energy and money.
How do they work?
With audio-visual devices, SPCs cut off power to your TVs, music systems, etc when you switch them to stand-by mode by pressing the on/off button on your remote control. They automatically reconnect your appliances to the power supply when you turn them back on using your remote control.
In an IT environment, SPCs usually work on a master-slave set-up, when the computer is the master device, and when your computer goes into idle mode, the SPC cuts off power to your peripheral devices, such as your printer, scanner, etc. When you start using the computer again and it goes back into active mode, the SPC automatically re-connects your peripheral devices to electric supply.
How can they be free?
The State government, through its Energy Saver Incentive scheme has determined that SPCs represent a certain amount of energy saving. Companies offering free SPCs get certificates representing the amount of energy saved from installing SPCs in homes, which they can then sell to cover the costs of the SPC and installation. This energy saving contributes to meeting an overall State-wide energy efficiency target under the Energy Saver Incentive scheme.
Is this dodgy?
No. This is a perfectly legitimate scheme. The basis for the scheme to work is for people to use devices such as SPCs to reduce energy use, and hence their greenhouse pollution.
Remember...
- The people that offer these free SPC are private businesses, not working for the Victorian Government or the Moreland Council (or Moreland Energy Foundation) – if they are claiming they are, they are being misleading.
- They must actually install the devices, not just hand them over. There must be a minimum of two appliances/devices connected to each SPC. Each household may have up to four SPCs installed in their home. If they do not install the SPCs, they are inappropriately claiming environmental benefits.
- Make sure you get the company’s name – a list of registered parties can be found on the VEET website:
- If they just hand them over, rather than installing them, let us know!
