14 February 2025

The way we name and describe concepts importantly influences how we understand the challenges associated with them, and imagine possible solutions. With the gathering pace and scope of the energy transition – which requires the involvement not only of diverse sector professionals, but also an expanding role for households in the maintenance of a healthy grid – it is essential to foster mutual understand between different groups regarding key issues and concepts. Yet at present, significant communication challenges exist both within the energy sector, as well as between the sector and everyday consumers. How can these various groups, with their different knowledges of, and interests in, the energy system better understand one another in order to cooperate on the challenges emerging in a rapidly changing energy system?

In collaboration with colleagues from Monash University, ACES social researcher and report lead author Dr. Rex Martin recently released the Household Energy Glossary. Drawing inspiration from other sectors where a glossary has been developed to promote interdisciplinarity and address miscommunication between diverse stakeholders, the Household Energy Glossary seeks to enhance understanding between energy sector professionals, and between the sector and its customers. Building on insights developed through landmark social science research conducted in Australia over the past 5 years, the report focuses on 4 areas key to Australia’s energy transition where communication challenges currently exist – Consumers, Concessions, Cost, and Control.

The Glossary explores how these 4 concepts are variously understood by the diverse stakeholders that comprise the energy sector. The potential for miscommunication regarding these key concepts poses difficulties for collaboration and the addressing of mutual challenges when cross-sector cooperation or consumer involvement are required. For the energy transition to be successful, and for people to be meaningfully included and have trust in the technologies and programs they are being asked to engage with, it is critical that we foster a shared understanding between sector stakeholders.

By exploring, simplifying, and ‘translating’ key terms and concepts, it is anticipated that the Household Energy Glossary report will help the energy sector and research partners better understand both one another, and everyday consumers.

Authors

Dr Rex Martin, Dr Fareed Kaviani, Dr Kari Dahlgren, Ms Yidan Gao

Funding Acknowledgement:

This report was funded by the Early Career Researcher Seed Grant of the Faculty of IT at Monash University.

Scholarly Acknowledgement:

We would also like to acknowledge the many scholars who have contributed to the social science research which has inspired this glossary. Many of the work is cited in these pages, but we especially would like to acknowledge Professor Yolande Strengers, Professor Sarah Pink, Dr Larissa Nicholls and Dr Hannah Korsmeyer who have collaborated on the Digital Energy Futures Research and the Future Home Demand Research, which have inspired this report.

Report link:

www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/3839122/Oct-Energy-Glossary_.pdf