Had a big chat on the phone with an old mate who lives in NQ and he and his wife are currently renting a place due to illness and he tells me that they have no choice either when it comes to Power Providers.

The people in that position, and I would guess that their numbers would be in the thousands, will have no choice but to pay up and shut up.




I wont comment any more on the opening post as I really dont know what direction the OP might expect this topic to go.

rgren2 wrote:

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We only have one supplier. No choice.

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 Provided that you are the property owner I would strongly advise that you install a decent Solar system. When I bought my last home, a large 4 bedroom 2 lounge property, I immediately installed 6.5kw Solar and we NEVER got an electricity bill despite my late Mrs loving the AC in summer and heater in winter. A GOOD Solar system will pay for itself in around 3 years. Pretty good return I'd suggest? Cheers

Solar cannot in a lot of cases cannot be installed.

msg wrote:

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We are being conditioned to accept that we may have to endure electricity and gas shortages in the future and ever higher prices.

Why? We have plenty of the raw materials to supply us for many years. Why? Because those that control these resources have agreed to advance contracts to export our resources overseas. Much like our agricultural produce. Export markets should be utilised to sell excess produce and resources.. We are suffering because of the GREED of big business. You can't keep warm with and eat money.

GREED. I wonder how many of the companies that own our electricity companies are wholly Australian and not owned overall by an  overseas company. 

-- Edited by msg on Saturday 4th of June 2022 12:49:56 PM

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 I think that I read there is some process where the federal government can step in and demand that Australians be given cheaper gas (and maybe other resources). I would imagine that the government would have to be very careful in making that decision. It could affect our credit rating, amongst other things, if overseas supply contracts are cancelled.

Some estates have a locked in deal with the energy provider, I think they get the kickback. Daughter was renting in Point Cook, locked down for telco , gas and electricty. No comeback from ACCC either.

We get ours at "mates rates". 

Yes Yobar.  I have a shade issue and a no sun issue.  My trees are protected trees and cannot be cut down unless they are a danger.   Anyway I like them.  They keep the house cool in the summer and in winter to a certain degree protect from the cold.  This would save electricity use to a certain extent.  About the biggest downside are the constant leaves and sticks dropping everywhere.  No big boughs though over 30yrs. (touch wood) 

The other one would be Body corporate. 

Another one might be a lack of capital and an inability to take out a loan.  Short term thinking maybe but nontheless a reason.

The panels don't last forever.  They are not environmentally friendly in themselves.  They need energy and resources to make them and the same to dispose of them.  

msg wrote:

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Yes Yobar.  I have a shade issue and a no sun issue.  My trees are protected trees and cannot be cut down unless they are a danger.   Anyway I like them.  They keep the house cool in the summer and in winter to a certain degree protect from the cold.  This would save electricity use to a certain extent.  About the biggest downside are the constant leaves and sticks dropping everywhere.  No big boughs though over 30yrs. (touch wood) 

The other one would be Body corporate. 

Another one might be a lack of capital and an inability to take out a loan.  Short term thinking maybe but nontheless a reason.

The panels don't last forever.  They are not environmentally friendly in themselves.  They need energy and resources to make them and the same to dispose of them.  

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 Some good points here, and some misunderstandings too! Panels may not last forever but I used to sell Solar in Geelong and surrounds and I know a chap in Ballarat who installed Solar in 1974, waaaay before it ever became popular. He reports that those panels still are producing as much now as they did 48 years ago! Capital is not a problem unless you've got an absolutely terrible credit rating and the savings on your power bill cover the loan repayments, but do not increase each year, as do power prices. Body corporates are generally a sheep in wolves clothing, but I will not elaborate, so no point asking! Same as "Heritage protected" buildings. Shade MAY be an issue, but rarely is a house shaded on 3 sides. Panels North is a fallacy, but I won't go there either. You've just got to find someone who knows what they're talking about. Please note that I'm no longer doing Solar, so not interested in trying to sell you anything, but happy to offer advice where I can. Cheers

P.S Copper nails sort unwanted trees out easily.

Yobarr, So your saying I can get sufficient sun on panels over 2hr late afternoon sunshine? especially when we havn't had sun for a long time. It wouldn't even power my van. I don't want to get rid of my trees. They are a great carbon sink. Solar panels deteriate over time.

Taking out finance in the hope of making savings in 5rs time is not a great idea. I advise people to do their sums there. Whats the difference to paying interest and capital on a loan and paying an electricity bill. It also would be a sum worth doing with good interest return and working out the opportunity cost of spending your own capital.

-- Edited by msg on Saturday 4th of June 2022 06:49:35 PM

msg wrote:

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Yobarr, So your saying I can get sufficient sun on panels over 2hr late afternoon sunshine? especially when we havn't had sun for a long time. It wouldn't even power my van. I don't want to get rid of my trees. They are a great carbon sink. Solar panels deteriate over time.

Taking out finance in the hope of making savings in 5rs time is not a great idea. I advise people to do their sums there. Whats the difference to paying interest and capital on a loan and paying an electricity bill. It also would be a sum worth doing with good interest return and working out the opportunity cost of spending your own capital.

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What ARE  you on about? Does your house have trees East and North? Everything deteriorates ( note spelling) over time, but I would suggest that something that pays for itself in 3-4 years, and last 40 years, would be a sound investment. You are in no position to "Ask people to do their sums" while I know, and can prove, that GOOD Solar is a solid investment that has better returns each year as power prices rise. Your analogy of comparing  interest and capital on a loan with paying an Electricity bill is invalid in that if you purchase a quality solar system, after 3-4 years you OWN an income-producing asset that will last many years, but if you continue to  pay your ever-increasing power bill, at the end of 3-4 years all you have is empty pockets. At the end of 10 years or 20 years those pockets still will be empty. Few products give returns as good as those given by a quality Solar system. As for your comment about "sum worth doing with good interest", surely you jest? Where can anybody these days get "good interest". Inflation is much higher than interest rates on savings etc, so those with cash in the bank are continually losing money. And things are about to get worse. Cheers

P.S My original post was simply to offer advice to you from my many years selling solar, and to offer help if wanted. Bit sad when my good advice is challenged by someone who clearly has little understanding of the industry. C'est la vie.

-- Edited by yobarr on Saturday 4th of June 2022 08:20:25 PM

rgren2 wrote:

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Pool runs from 8am to 11am. We have two HW systems, they are off peak as it is too expensive to connect otherwise. The solar payed for itself within 3.5 years.-- Edited by rgren2 on Saturday 4th of June 2022 06:54:43 PM

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 Hi Rod. Depending on your usage patterns and what size solar system you have, along with variables such as your FIT, your HW cylinder size and your off-peak rate, sometimes it is beneficial to put your HW onto the T11 meter and heat your water during the day. Many questions to be asked, so my advice is only general. However, I have just noticed that your FIT is only 7 cents, so it is well worthwhile putting your HW systems onto T11, dependent on their sizes. Cheers

I doubt that you will get a decent fixed rate loan at the moment or in the near future. The very first sentence does not make sense. Your knowledge of the finance world is also quite lacking.

msg wrote:

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I doubt that you will get a decent fixed rate loan at the moment or in the near future. The very first sentence does not make sense. Your knowledge of the finance world is also quite lacking.

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I got a fixed home loan rate 15 years ago from Defence Services Homes Loan, of 1.85 % fixed, it hasn't changed in all these years, only 10 years to go,  and very little to pay fortnitely, as well. 

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 4th of June 2022 11:32:21 PM

I did the pipes as well.

The 0.95 figure I got would actually be better as the standard test is at an ambient temperature of 21°C.

When I measured with the additional insulation the ambient temperature was 15°C.

I was very surprised just how hot the tank was slipping your hand under the additional insulation.

I used left over materials. First layer of building bubble wrap, that worked. Later added R4 polyester batts, two layers on top. Then covered whole thing in building bubble wrap.

 

 

The tank also has a U trap, the U bend in the pipe. This stops heat loss going through the pipe as the water can't move. So you only have the actual pipe conducting heat.