So ... where to from here?

rockylizard · Guru

So ... where to from here?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Another political discussion?
Cheers,
Peter

rockylizard · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another political discussion?
Cheers,
Peter

Gday...

Certainly doesn't need to be. hmm

I see it simply a question of those, both within and without government, focusing on impartial, bipartisan, public sector and private sector solutions and implementation actions.

The problems are like the dog's proverbials ... and the solutions equally so.

Cheers - John

Mike Harding · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Another political discussion?

So electricity prices are political? What about the price of bread or socks?

One of my gripes with the "political" rule is that it is often used to curb discussion regarding social issues.

Malcolm Turnbull is political, a pensioner struggling to pay her electricity bill is not.

----

Electricity prices:

The biggest factor to date is the bloody poles and wires companies! Under contract their return is guaranteed as a percentage of their investment so after the GFC when interest rates dropped to near zero they went onto world markets and borrowed bucket loads of cash at very, very low rates. They used this cash to "gold plate" the network and because of their fixed percentage return made an absolute killing... of me, you, the local bakery and anyone else who uses electricity.

Yuglamron · Guru

It seems that this is "The Landrover Syndrome" at it's worst.

Many years ago Britain's Landrover had a stranglehold on the off road market round the world with a few competitors like Jeep and Willeys.

The British took the profits and squandered them without updating old out of date machinery. This despite the technical advances they were privy to.

Upshot was Peugeot and Toyota entered that niche market and look who now makes the most 4x4's.

Same with Power generation here. Old outdated coal powered generation never upgraded with modern high efficiency generation.

I know for a fact that in 1974 a pilot generation plant was running in Scotland converting coal into pelletised fuel to run a generating station. It was built full scale to prove the technology.

It had virtually no CO2 emissions and the ash was being used to make breeze blocks so very little waste. The pelletising process also produced gas that could be fed into the gas system for homes to heat and cook with.

Germany, and the USA had put in 600 million sterling into the project.

Proven technology so where is it now?

Farmhat · Senior Member

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Who's really to blame for expensive electricity?
There are three main causes for the extraordinary spike in electricity prices across most of the country.
The first, and the major cause, is 15 years of federal government inaction and factional infighting over energy policy which stalled private investment in new generation resulting in a supply shortage.
The second is the enormous spike in gas prices, resulting from a botched foray into export markets that has seen Australia a gas-rich nation and soon to be the world's biggest exporter paying more for its gas than customers in Asia. That forced generation prices higher.
And the third was the gold plating of the poles and wires networks by state governments that simply passed on the costs to consumers.
Cheers - John

And number 4, (perhaps #1) --- the greed of the big retailers.

Joe

LLD · Guru

Have prices increased that much or are people using more as well? Watched a family interviewed saying they were having trouble paying their bill. In the back ground was a very large plasma TV, a massive 3 door fridge and a dishwasher (which all heat their water with electricity these days). I suspect the kitchen lights were all downlights which are an expensive item; should be banned. Probably a beer fridge in the garage too. I'm guessing an electric audit of this house would have found many, many more excesses that contribute to a massive bill.

I have downlights. There was 11 x 40W. I still have two as they are in places rarely used. Nine have been replaced with LEDs all below 20W.
Our house is lit up with small lights (clocks, PC, security etc.). Can see the "background" usage overnight via access to my smart meter. I turned everything of except security items during our recent holiday. What a difference.

-- Edited by LLD on Tuesday 28th of August 2018 02:13:23 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Electricity Retail Prices 1990>2017

Electricity Retail prices 01.jpg

Thank heavens the carbon tax was repealed and that $550 per year came off the bills.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 28th of August 2018 08:23:46 PM

LLD · Guru

John.

Is the above chart adjusted for inflation? $100 in 1990 = $193 in 2017 according to www.rba.gov.au/calculator/annualDecimal.html

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Electricity Retail prices 02.jpg

cheers - John

LLD · Guru

Thanks John.

Im guessing my Land rates and Water rates follow a similar path as electricity vs CPI. Had lots of correspondence regarding why rates increased over CPI. Always wrote to local authority and cc: to State and Federal MPs. Local authority blamed State Govt, State Govt blamed Federal, Federal blamed everyone they thought could be involved but of course they had nothing to do with local authority charges.

With petrol we pay before purchase and sometimes shop around. However with electricity, we pay before we shop around. That puts quite a different perspective on pre-paid vs post-paid. A bit more of a captive audience with post-paid. We dont get to shop around on the last bill, just the next one.