Why contractors are not just workers, but trusted advisors
The future of electrical contracting is not just installations and construction, it’s acting as a trusted source of reliable advice to customers.
That is the view of two of the consumer experts who spoke at the MEA Clean Energy Conference.
Australian consumers are rapidly adopting new, renewable energy technology. No other country has adopted solar PV like we have.
But with electrification of systems ranging from heating to transport becoming increasingly common, consumers are confused and in the dark about what is best for them and their circumstances.
Speaking at the conference, Energy Consumers Australia CEO Lynne Gallagher believes rapid changes to devices in the energy market has led to uncertainty and confusion among customers.
“There is a bewildering array of choices. What is the right thing for this family, in this house, at this time? There is a real need for training, for independent advice and for that to be available to you,” she said.
Ms Gallagher said consumers needed advice they could trust, and electrical contractors were well positioned to become that advisor.
“What should I do about insulating my 60 year old house? But what do I do? If I swap the gas hot water, do I get a heat pump, do I get an electric resistance hot water storage?
“Some things have higher up-front costs; some have higher running costs. We need to cut through the complexity”.
Increasingly customers will turn to electrical contractors to help them understand new electrification technologies.
The Customer Advocate
principal advocate Mike Swanston said electrical contractors’ expertise can help the public make decisions that suited them.
“Customers are going to be bombarded with a whole range of new things. Change in the way we use energy, new technologies in the home, and of course advice on how we can find our way through these various things,” he said.
“And this is where electrical contractors will come in – as a trusted advisor.
“They are the people that talk to customers every day. They know what’s going on, they know what the customer’s trying to achieve.”
Mr Swanston said by providing needed advice to consumers, electrical contractors would become trusted advisors in the transition to modern clean energy.
“If we can bring together the knowledge of electrical contractors in what are the most important pieces in this new electricity landscape and talk to customers about it, it’s going to be a terrific outcome for everybody.”
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