Facts are facts.rev wrote: ↑Wed Feb 28, 2024 2:06 pmI don't think we can really blame global events. We have an abundance of gas and coal in this country. Now if the trade agreements our governments have setup for the supply of gas and coal abroad are impacting prices here, which I believe with gas may actually be the case (it is said we are basically subsidising cheap gas to China and Japan - they get our resource cheaper, we pay more), then pointing the finger at governments is valid.Llessur2002 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:26 pmTo be fair there are valid questions here - if prices are going up (which they generally have been markedly in recent years) then what's the cause? Is it directly related to a rise in wholesale prices?
If so, what's cause of that? Global events, the transition to non-coal based fuels, something else, or a complicated mix of factors?
The huge cost for that transition, the establishing of these new supplies from solar and wind, and the battery storage, will have to be paid by someone. That someone is the consumer.If it's the transition to renewables causing higher bills in Australia then are the price spikes short-term in nature and related to investment in the networks required to support and optimise the grid for the newer power sources? Will wholesale prices eventually fall sharply once this transition period is over and we'll all look back and realise it was worth the short-term pain or have renewables simply not provided the cost savings promised/expected?
When our politicians are out there telling us that these renewable energy projects will bring down our prices, they aren't being honest.
There's a section on my electricity bill that says that you could* save if you change to a different plan. It also says that they are required by the Australian Energy Regulator to tell you this and put it on your bill.On the other hand, if hikes in the retail price of power cannot be directly and proportionately correlated with the cost of wholesale electricity then are we being gouged in the same way as we are by Colesworths?
If they weren't required to do that, would they do it? Of course not.
I think some people read my posts and think I'm dead against renewables or whatever, which I'm not. Most people are not in a position to be able to afford a decent solar and battery setup, which should be obvious when we're 1) in a cost of living crisis and 2) its a well established fact that the majority in this country live week to week. Apparently though it's their own fault for choosing the more expensive option?I'm very supportive of the transition to renewables and am lucky enough to have 13kw of solar on my roof which has reduced my bills to essentially nothing during summer - despite very liberal use of our ducted AC. However, a lot of people do not have the resources to fund even a 6kw solar system, let alone a battery, so I don't think it's fair to assume that everyone has a viable path to the bill reductions I've seen.
I'm all for renewables and new technologies in general. Maybe they don't care about their elected officials bullshitting them all the time, but I do. Our taxes pay their salaries and afford them the generous benefits and completely unfair pension system they have for them selves, the very least the mugs could do is give us some honesty and transparency once in a while.
It's not only that, it's that we then get told that gas is to blame, or coal. Or some war on the other side of the world is impacting the sun and wind in Australia or some such nonsense i dunno anymore.Rev has a point - the move to renewables at a grid level has absolutely been touted as being a precursor to much cheaper power bills and yet the opposite has happened during the timeframe that much of this activity has happened. I don't remember being lower prices would be dependent on uptake of solar and battery technology at an individual level so either:
a) That was a lie/flawed analysis
b) Something's changed
c) Electricity providers are price gouging
Surely power prices would be a massive driver of inflation across the board. If there's price gouging going on then I'm much rather the government clamps down on that than homeowners like me doing all of the heavy lifting through higher interest rates.
I'm no expert on the national or global electricity markets so I think it's an interesting discussion to have.
But my retailer specifically states they are supplying 100% renewable energy, from wind, solar and battery storage.
Yet my bills still went up some 30% year on year.
This doesn't make sense, when we get told renewables will bring down our prices.
If I am being told by the government that that will happen, and my retailer is telling me that they are supplying me with power sourced from renewable generation, why are they increasing my power bills by 30%?
What does coal and gas have to do with it when my electricity is, as my retailer has told me, not coming from those sources?
The whole thing stinks to high heaven. We're being rorted, some of us can see it, some cant.
It is cheaper for most people to move to solar plus batteries. Fact.
The existing coal plants are on their last legs. Fact.
So, we are always up for the cost of replacing them. Fact.
Multiple studies have been done showing that wind and solar are cheaper per MWH of installed capacity. Fact.
None of the serious energy players in the country are even contemplating building coal fired plants. The numbers don't stack up.
No matter what the reasons for higher retail prices are, it's not because renewables are more expensive to install. They are cheaper and faster to deploy. The only coal plants being built worldwide are either by governments or guaranteed by taxpayers. The private sector won't touch them unless there's a taxpayer guarantee. That ought to tell people something.
However, if people wish to spend more for their energy, and pretend it's the fault of renewables, or some grand conspiracy, despite the facts staring them in the face so be it. It's your money to waste, and if blaming renewables helps ease the pain, be my guest.
