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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam

Australia could save vast amounts of power by managing demand remotely. But would you give up control of your air conditioner?

Australia Electricity AGL Gabrielle Kuiper Tim Forcey
Large man in navy blue stands next to brick wall with batteries attached
Jim Gibney, standing by the newly installed batteries powered by solar panels on his roof, says he now has peace of mind. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

In a three-decade career at Qantas, Jim Gibney’s technical engineering skills helped modify wing flaps on 747 jetliners to cut fuel use.

Now he’s content to hand the controls of his home’s solar panels and batteries to an agent in exchange for seven years without an electricity bill.

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