Open your phone or flick on your TV, and a new problem seemingly caused by renewables will appear. Undervoltage has made the rounds across media channels this past week, and it is stirring up the expected flurry. Cases of undercooked food by microwaves not receiving enough power from the grid are pointing to renewables and electrification playing havoc on our power supply.
We’ll take a look at what undervoltage is, how it is caused, and if it is a problem for Australian homes and businesses.
What is undervoltage?
Undervoltage is exactly what it sounds like. It occurs when the voltage supplied to a property drops below the level that equipment is designed to receive.
In Australia, the nominal household supply voltage is 230 volts. Standards allow some movement above and below that figure, because no network can hold a perfectly flat line every second of the day. The Australian Energy Regulator notes an allowable low-voltage supply range of roughly 216V to 253V under current standards1.
If supply regularly dips too low, some appliances may not perform as expected. Lights can dim, motors can run hotter, pumps may struggle to start, and older microwaves or resistive appliances may cook more slowly.
That said, one poor-performing appliance does not automatically mean the whole grid is collapsing. Sometimes the issue sits inside the property itself.
Is undervoltage caused by renewables?
Short answer: not inherently.
Renewables are an easy headline target because they are visible, new, and politically charged. But voltage issues existed long before rooftop solar, batteries, EVs, or heat pumps entered the average Aussie home.
Voltage performance is influenced by many factors, including:
- network loading during busy periods
- distance from the local transformer
- ageing poles, wires, and substations
- poorly sized or deteriorated private wiring
- storm damage or failing equipment
- rapid growth areas where infrastructure lags demand
- two-way power flows that older networks were not built for
Even the Victorian Essential Services Commission notes that voltage compliance can be impacted by topology, distance, weather, maintenance issues, unexpected equipment malfunctions, and ageing infrastructure that lacks capacity for modern demand2.
That last point matters. Australia has modernised homes faster than parts of the grid.
We now ask networks to support air conditioners, induction cooktops, EV chargers, data-heavy homes, batteries, and rooftop solar exports. Much of the network was built for a one-way world where power flowed from a coal plant to a kettle.
Times have changed.
The real issue may be ageing infrastructure
Blaming renewables for every voltage issue is like blaming rain for potholes. The weather exposed the weakness, but the neglected road was already the problem.
Many local distribution networks need upgrades, such as:
- smarter transformers
- voltage regulators
- upgraded conductors
- better monitoring
- dynamic export management
- stronger local substations
- modern planning for two-way energy flows
The Australian Energy Regulator has recently highlighted the consumer benefits of improved voltage management, including more efficient operation of appliances and better integration of consumer energy resources such as solar and batteries3.
That should tell us something. Regulators are not saying “solar is to blame”. They are saying “manage the network better”.
Can electrification increase pressure on the grid?
Yes, if planning is poor.
Electrification means replacing fossil fuel appliances with efficient electric alternatives. Think EVs, heat pumps, induction cooking, and reverse-cycle air conditioning. Done badly, this can add pressure at peak times.
Done well, it can reduce system stress.
For example:
- EVs can charge overnight or during solar-rich periods
- batteries can discharge during evening peaks
- heat pumps can run on timers
- smart homes can shift loads automatically
- rooftop solar can reduce daytime network demand
The problem is rarely the technology itself. It is unmanaged demand meeting outdated infrastructure.
Why self-generation and storage matter more than ever
If recent headlines prove anything, it is that relying entirely on the grid is becoming less attractive.
Homes and businesses with solar and battery storage can:
- reduce dependence on volatile grid performance
- use their own cheaper energy first
- lower peak imports
- maintain some power during outages (with backup-capable systems)
- support the wider grid when coordinated through virtual power plants
This does not mean everyone should disconnect tomorrow and live off-grid in a shed near Bendigo.
It means resilience matters.
A modern energy system is likely to be a partnership between the grid and consumers. The grid remains vital, but households and businesses can now produce, store, and manage energy in ways impossible twenty years ago.
That is progress, not a problem.
What should homeowners do if they suspect undervoltage?
If appliances are struggling, lights dim frequently, or devices behave oddly:
- Check internal wiring first. Loose connections or undersized circuits can mimic network problems.
- Ask neighbours. If several homes are affected, it may be a local network issue.
- Contact your distributor or retailer. They can arrange an investigation or monitoring.
- Consider energy upgrades. Solar, batteries, and smarter load control can reduce reliance on poor supply periods.
- Use a licensed electrician only. Never DIY electrical fault finding.
Planning for a reliable future
Undervoltage is real, but it is not new, and it is not proof that renewables have broken the grid. In many cases, it points to a bigger truth: parts of Australia’s electricity infrastructure need investment after years of under-preparation for a cleaner, more electrified future.
Rather than attacking solar panels and batteries, we should modernise networks and empower consumers to generate and store their own power.
Because if the grid is wobbling, the answer is not to stop progress. It is to catch up with it.
