Power to the people: how suburban solar could become the Uber of the energy grid

Australians are embracing the 'virtual power plant', which advocates say can protect the grid, save money and combat the climate crisis

Power to the people might remain a political pipe dream, but changes taking place in the energy market across Australia are making suburban homeowners the unlikely disruptors in an Uber-style revolution that promises to change how we all live.

Despite a toxic political debate about energy that cost the last prime minister his job, thousands of households are showing Canberra the way forward as they group their individual solar systems together to form local networks that help to slash bills, stabilise the electricity grid and cut carbon emissions.