AGL Energy and the UK’s leading zero carbon living brand, OVO, have signed an agreement to deliver innovative digital services tech to Australian consumers.
The collaboration gives AGL exclusive access in Australia to Kaluza, OVO’s advanced customer experience and energy flexibility platform, which has been developed to power millions of customer accounts.
Kaluza’s artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled platform delivers world-class tooling for retailers to transform their operations and provide customers with a rich digital experience and real-time energy insights that help them reduce their bills.
At the same time, Kaluza orchestrates the charging of electric vehicles, energy storage systems and other flexible home devices to enable the shift to a low-carbon energy future.
As part of the agreement, AGL will invest in OVO Energy Australia to adapt the Kaluza platform for Australia and serve a growing customer base with innovative products and services.
The companies will work together, drawing on their expertise in low-carbon innovation and energy retail, to develop digital customer experiences that may ultimately help support AGL’s customers who are looking to reduce their costs and carbon emissions.
Australia has one of the highest levels of rooftop solar generation in the world and ensuring grid stability is a priority as energy supply continues to decentralise. Kaluza’s advanced software is primed to help towards solving these grid challenges by intelligently shifting device charging to times of lower demand.
In Australia, AGL supplies 4.2 million services to customers and is leading in the business of transitioning to a low-carbon energy future, including the publication of its Climate Statement commitments with a clear path to decarbonisation in 2020. AGL shares OVO’s vision for a low-carbon future built around the customer.
Brett Redman, Managing Director and CEO at AGL, said, “Through this joint venture, OVO and AGL will bring world-class technology and innovation to Australia.
“Central to the market forces that shape our strategy is customer demand. This collaboration will help us ensure our customers have choice and flexibility when it comes to their essential services.
“AGL has been evolving our offerings, with carbon-neutral, multi-product options and decentralised energy solutions, and this will allow us to continue into the future.
“At AGL, we believe that the future of energy in Australia will be smart and affordable and we are committed to playing a leading role in developing a pathway to a modern decarbonised energy system.
“Our agreement with OVO represents an exciting opportunity to work together to meet that objective, exploring the right innovative systems to meet future demand and digitising the customer experience.”
Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO and Founder of OVO, said, “While the shift to renewables is driving decarbonisation of the power sector, the hard work of tackling carbon emissions in the rest of the economy, in particular the residential sector, is just beginning.
“Ultimately, success will come down to turning consumers into willing, active participants in the energy transition.
“Companies must now focus on building trust with their customers, harnessing technology that makes zero carbon living simple and affordable for everyone.
“The Kaluza platform uses real-time data to create a uniquely personalised digital experience, making it easy for the customer to engage with energy and their own carbon footprint.
“We are proud to be working with AGL, a true household name in Australia, to bring the power of our technology to a market that is at the forefront of the zero carbon revolution.”
