The growing problem stopping Melbourne residents using their microwave

Residents in Melbourne, like Marie Slako in Northcote, are facing a growing problem with their electrical appliances failing to perform reliably, particularly during peak demand. Slako's experience, where her induction cooktop, microwave, and heating system faltered, is becoming increasingly common as more households transition away from gas to electric power.

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I'd like to get off fossil fuels. And also gas is really expensive. The winter price, it hurts.

The core issue, identified by network operator CitiPower, is undervoltage. This occurs when the electricity infrastructure, originally designed for lower demand, is unable to deliver sufficient power to homes as more appliances and heating systems are connected. CitiPower manager Tom Langstaff uses the analogy of a shower running cold when other taps are turned on, illustrating how increased demand strains the system, causing voltage to plummet and appliances to malfunction.

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The cold weekend we just had, I could not get the split system to work at all, which is pretty annoying.

This situation highlights a critical challenge for Victoria's energy transition. While the move towards electrification and away from fossil fuels is a necessary step for environmental reasons and to combat rising gas prices, the existing power grid infrastructure is clearly not keeping pace. The rapid growth in electricity demand, driven by the adoption of induction cooktops, electric vehicle chargers, and electric heating, is placing immense pressure on the network. For residents, this translates into frustration and uncertainty, especially as winter approaches, with the potential need to revert to expensive and less environmentally friendly gas heating systems. The reliability of essential services is being compromised, demanding urgent attention and investment in grid upgrades to support the electrification goals.

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The power network was sort of designed to handle customers' consumption for a given time when it was originally built. As we're seeing customers draw more and more power through that network, it comes under pressure.