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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam Economics correspondent

Could Australia’s outdated voltage standards be taking years off the life of your toaster?

United States Gabrielle Kuiper Electricity ESB Lily DAmbrosio NEM Aer University of Wollongong UoW
A University of Wollongong team is testing hundreds of devices – from lightbulbs to microwaves and fridges – to gauge how they cope with varying voltages.
A University of Wollongong team is testing hundreds of devices – from lightbulbs to microwaves and fridges – to gauge how they cope with varying voltages. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Ever wondered why your trusty toaster abruptly failed or your widescreen TV suddenly went on the fritz, far too early in the life of the appliance?

Excessively high voltage levels might be to blame for their premature demise, energy experts say.

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