Why Your Power Bill Still Hurts.

DiscoMick · 27th November 2014, 09:24 AM

Its good to see communities trying to band together to break the monopoly of the big government-protected coal-fired power companies and create viable alternatives.

Byron Bay residents push for Australia's first community-owned clean energy generator - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

There's no doubt most people would like to be protected from price-gouging by the majors and would support sensible alternatives. That has already been shown by the huge take up of solar rooftop panels, which are much more popular than governments expected.

Other countries are well ahead of us on this, as the Abbott Government has killed off 70% of renewable investment by deliberately undermining the Renewable Energy Target to deter investors. How dumb is it to deter investment in the energy sources of the future? Just really stupid, I reckon. Fortunately, the public hasn't been fooled, as the opinion polls show.

**Ferret** · 27th November 2014, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

To save money with solar its important to minimise power consumption during the day and defer as much as possible usage until after 8pm. That way you're getting the full solar credit and using as little as possible during the day....

That strategy depends upon what credit you get paid for your solar electricity generation feed to the grid vs what you pay for electricity purchased from the grid and these figures vary across the country and so changes the nature of the equation.

In Perth the opposite strategy is true. The only way to make solar work financially is to maximise solar electricity use during the day, thereby avoiding the purchase of electricity from the grid.

Solar electricity feed to the grid earns you a ~$0.07 / kWh credit but electricity purchased from the grid costs you ~ $0.23 / kWh. There are other electricity pricing structures you can elect to use (TOU etc.) but like the casinos, the power suppliers always structure them so that they always win over the longer term.

**Greatsouthernland** · 27th November 2014, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by bee utey

SA's electricity prices aren't high due to wind energy (wholesale wind energy is almost free), they are due to some extremely rich mongrel living in Singapore skimming 30% off each and every bill straight into his bank accounts. That's privatisation for you.

No Cookies | The Advertiser

He's actually living in China, but that doesn't matter.

Funny how everyone bags the Chinese 'communist' system as the yanks describe it, but their success at 'capitalism' is in part due to our government selling our goose that lays their golden eggs...for just one stupid egg!

Not sure of I made my point

... Mr Li is doing well out of owning what our government used to own, why is he smarter than our government?

**350RRC** · 27th November 2014, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Greatsouthernland

... Mr Li is doing well out of owning what our government used to own, why is he smarter than our government?

Anyone with with a strategic plan longer than any of Australia's election cycles would look smarter.

Statesmanship is no longer part of the political landscape here and the foreign (and domestic) 'pickers' know it.

cheers, DL

**Greatsouthernland** · 27th November 2014, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by 350RRC

Anyone with with a strategic plan longer than any of Australia's election cycles would look smarter.

Statesmanship is no longer part of the political landscape here and the foreign (and domestic) 'pickers' know it.

cheers, DL

Yes, agree with you absolutely...the socialists don't realise that they have nothing to gain (administer) if they were to win balance of power, the farm's been sold

**350RRC** · 27th November 2014, 09:49 PM

The other side is no better.

DL

**Greatsouthernland** · 27th November 2014, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by 350RRC

The other side is no better.

DL

True, as it created these conditions.

**JDNSW** · 28th November 2014, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by Greatsouthernland

True, as it created these conditions.

To a considerable extent, it is dodging the truth to blame the politicians.

The short sighted policies of politicians are simply a reflection of the voters' attitudes, and "allowing" foreign entities to buy assets simply begs the question as to why Australians are not buying them instead. Again, the real reason is that most Australians are unwilling to make long term investments - we (speaking generally) prefer to make quick gains and encourage our corporations along the same path by making investment decisions based on the latest quarterly report rather than long term plans.

This short term attitude is, not surprisingly, encouraged by tax and other legislation that encourages a short term outlook, especially by corporations.

Politicians are encouraged by their constituents who tend to vote for whoever gives the best bottom line after each election. Until voters start looking long term, don't expect the politicians to.

Other countries, especially less democratic ones, can follow strong leaders who can have long term vision, and even in democratic countries, strong, charismatic leaders can lead rather than bribe their supporters. I have trouble thinking of such a leader in Australian politics, certainly in my lifetime. There have been a few who have tried this, but have failed to carry enough voters with them to last very long.

John

Tombie · 28th November 2014, 08:09 AM

John, that was probably the best post I've read in ages.
Eloquently sums up the Landscape.

Thank you.

**Greatsouthernland** · 28th November 2014, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

To a considerable extent, it is dodging the truth to blame the politicians.

The short sighted policies of politicians are simply a reflection of the voters' attitudes, and "allowing" foreign entities to buy assets simply begs the question as to why Australians are not buying them instead. Again, the real reason is that most Australians are unwilling to make long term investments - we (speaking generally) prefer to make quick gains and encourage our corporations along the same path by making investment decisions based on the latest quarterly report rather than long term plans.

This short term attitude is, not surprisingly, encouraged by tax and other legislation that encourages a short term outlook, especially by corporations.

Politicians are encouraged by their constituents who tend to vote for whoever gives the best bottom line after each election. Until voters start looking long term, don't expect the politicians to.

Other countries, especially less democratic ones, can follow strong leaders who can have long term vision, and even in democratic countries, strong, charismatic leaders can lead rather than bribe their supporters. I have trouble thinking of such a leader in Australian politics, certainly in my lifetime. There have been a few who have tried this, but have failed to carry enough voters with them to last very long.

John

I understand what you mean. I spend the time putting over 100 votes in order under the line, but how does any of this help with the 4 year term and opposition for the sake of it - most often partisan. And alliances never mentioned up front when the voting happens or alliances created after the vote that voters would not have supported if they'd known?

Murdoch's, Packers, Rhineharts, Kidmans, Palmers etc are Aussies making long term investments...I'd like to see more long term policy, but stuffed if I know how it can happen with potential change every 4 years and so many back room deals going on, the Westminster way I spose, I still don't have any answers John...

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