News & Discussion: Electricity Infrastructure

[Waewick]

You seem switched on (pardon the pun) for these things.

Ive been told that the increase is to the default price and most people wont see any proce increase as all?

[PeFe]

You seem switched on (pardon the pun) for these things.

Ive been told that the increase is to the default price and most people wont see any proce increase as all?

No (I believe) increasing the default offer will increase power bills.....

I have just swapped electricity providers and even though I think I know a little bit about it I found myself floundering.....the electricity retailers do not make it easy.

Each electricity retailer has a different "access" fee......a fee you are charged even if you use 0 kw on that day.

Each retailer has different rate per kw or different rates for different times of the day.....

My advice to anyone who is unhappy with cost of their electricity bill is to shop around.....being passive about it and doing nothing is the worst option.

At least try and understand why you are being ripped off

And anybody who has recently bought a house and started a family......install solar panels on your roof! Do not live in a house as a family for 20 years paying huge electricity bills! Buy a second hand car instead of new, so that you can have solar power.

Advice column for the day over.....

[SBD]

You seem switched on (pardon the pun) for these things.

Ive been told that the increase is to the default price and most people wont see any proce increase as all?

No (I believe) increasing the default offer will increase power bills.....

I have just swapped electricity providers and even though I think I know a little bit about it I found myself floundering.....the electricity retailers do not make it easy.

Each electricity retailer has a different "access" fee......a fee you are charged even if you use 0 kw on that day.

Each retailer has different rate per kw or different rates for different times of the day.....

My advice to anyone who is unhappy with cost of their electricity bill is to shop around.....being passive about it and doing nothing is the worst option.

At least try and understand why you are being ripped off

And anybody who has recently bought a house and started a family......install solar panels on your roof! Do not live in a house as a family for 20 years paying huge electricity bills! Buy a second hand car instead of new, so that you can have solar power.

Advice column for the day over.....

We finally bit the bullet and installed 15kW nominal solar panels (3 phase) at the end of last summer, so not 12 months yet.

I got a call a couple of months ago from one of those bill comparison companies who told me I should have seen my rates had just gone up (they hadn't). He gave up on me soon after I asked what the best feed-in rate he offered was. We're not on any special rates, but it sounds like it might drop further when the current contract expires in May. We had bills in winter and summer, but built a credit in Spring.

Our installer said home batteries are not cost-effective yet, but now that we have time-of-day metering and can see our profile, I'll have more reliable numbers to consider it in future.

[rev]

You seem switched on (pardon the pun) for these things.

Ive been told that the increase is to the default price and most people wont see any proce increase as all?

No (I believe) increasing the default offer will increase power bills.....

I have just swapped electricity providers and even though I think I know a little bit about it I found myself floundering.....the electricity retailers do not make it easy.

Each electricity retailer has a different "access" fee......a fee you are charged even if you use 0 kw on that day.

Each retailer has different rate per kw or different rates for different times of the day.....

My advice to anyone who is unhappy with cost of their electricity bill is to shop around.....being passive about it and doing nothing is the worst option.

At least try and understand why you are being ripped off

And anybody who has recently bought a house and started a family......install solar panels on your roof! Do not live in a house as a family for 20 years paying huge electricity bills! Buy a second hand car instead of new, so that you can have solar power.

Advice column for the day over.....

We finally bit the bullet and installed 15kW nominal solar panels (3 phase) at the end of last summer, so not 12 months yet.

I got a call a couple of months ago from one of those bill comparison companies who told me I should have seen my rates had just gone up (they hadn't). He gave up on me soon after I asked what the best feed-in rate he offered was. We're not on any special rates, but it sounds like it might drop further when the current contract expires in May. We had bills in winter and summer, but built a credit in Spring.

Our installer said home batteries are not cost-effective yet, but now that we have time-of-day metering and can see our profile, I'll have more reliable numbers to consider it in future.

Noticed a major difference in bills yet?

[SBD]

No (I believe) increasing the default offer will increase power bills.....

I have just swapped electricity providers and even though I think I know a little bit about it I found myself floundering.....the electricity retailers do not make it easy.

Each electricity retailer has a different "access" fee......a fee you are charged even if you use 0 kw on that day.

Each retailer has different rate per kw or different rates for different times of the day.....

My advice to anyone who is unhappy with cost of their electricity bill is to shop around.....being passive about it and doing nothing is the worst option.

At least try and understand why you are being ripped off

And anybody who has recently bought a house and started a family......install solar panels on your roof! Do not live in a house as a family for 20 years paying huge electricity bills! Buy a second hand car instead of new, so that you can have solar power.

Advice column for the day over.....

We finally bit the bullet and installed 15kW nominal solar panels (3 phase) at the end of last summer, so not 12 months yet.

I got a call a couple of months ago from one of those bill comparison companies who told me I should have seen my rates had just gone up (they hadn't). He gave up on me soon after I asked what the best feed-in rate he offered was. We're not on any special rates, but it sounds like it might drop further when the current contract expires in May. We had bills in winter and summer, but built a credit in Spring.

Our installer said home batteries are not cost-effective yet, but now that we have time-of-day metering and can see our profile, I'll have more reliable numbers to consider it in future.

Noticed a major difference in bills yet?

Winter bills were less than a third of the previous year, despite having moved to time-of-day tariff and I think a less-special rate. I think we had two or three months in spring with a credit (sunshine but doors and windows open), and now back to small bills, but probably running the aircon more than we used to as well.

Peak period consumption price is almost 8 times the feed in rate, and that's apparently the best deal available from an Australian retailer. One of the Hong Kong retailers might offer slightly better.

[NTRabbit]

Interesting take on the back bone of the Australian economy. The people you just described as the stupidest people you've ever met, are responsible for 1/3 of the Australia's GDP, and employ over 5 million Australians out of a total workforce of roughly 14 million.

I think you'll find the workers are the backbone of the Australian economy, not the employers

[Llessur2002]

We finally bit the bullet and installed 15kW nominal solar panels (3 phase) at the end of last summer, so not 12 months yet.

I got a call a couple of months ago from one of those bill comparison companies who told me I should have seen my rates had just gone up (they hadn't). He gave up on me soon after I asked what the best feed-in rate he offered was. We're not on any special rates, but it sounds like it might drop further when the current contract expires in May. We had bills in winter and summer, but built a credit in Spring.

Our installer said home batteries are not cost-effective yet, but now that we have time-of-day metering and can see our profile, I'll have more reliable numbers to consider it in future.

Noticed a major difference in bills yet?

Winter bills were less than a third of the previous year, despite having moved to time-of-day tariff and I think a less-special rate. I think we had two or three months in spring with a credit (sunshine but doors and windows open), and now back to small bills, but probably running the aircon more than we used to as well.

Peak period consumption price is almost 8 times the feed in rate, and that's apparently the best deal available from an Australian retailer. One of the Hong Kong retailers might offer slightly better.

We installed 13kw of solar panels (single phase, 10kw inverter) a couple of years ago with no battery and it's been amazing. Before the panels our quarterly electricty bills for a family of four were in the region of $700-900 with fairly reserved use (but heavier in summer) of three split AC systems around the house.

Since the install we have built credits of $100-200 in spring and summer and seen bills of $100-200 in autumn and winter. But at the time of the solar install we also had a large ducted AC system installed as well which gets used very heavily - any day over 32-33 degrees we just run it all day every day when the solar is pumping - even if we're not home (it keeps the house nice and cool and means we can turn it off in the evening when the sun's not shining and the house doesn't really heat up again inside like it did in the split system days when we it just soaked up the heat whilst we were at work).

Through a retention deal we managed to get 10c/kwh for the last 12 months from Origin but I suspect that will drop when we need to re-sign in six months time. Given the low feed-in rates we have changed our habits as to when we use electricity - everything happens during daylight hours where possible. We time the dishwasher to come on mid-day and try to push the washing out to the weekends or work from home days too. Our evening usage is pretty much just low-draw TV, lighting and fridge etc.

I'm keeping an eye on battery prices but at the moment it's just not cost effective and the system as it stands is doing a great job of providing us with loads of free power when we need it most. Winter is the more challenging time with fewer daylight hours and the temptation for putting the heating on in the evenings. But at the time of the solar and AC installs we also upgraded our roof insulation which has made a marked difference to how cold the house gets overnight. The only benefits I can see the battery providing at the moment is the freedom to the heat the house to a furnace overnight and to run the dishwasher after dinner. The former I must admit would be nice, but the latter is a very minor convenience.

Someone with an EV might have a different cost-benefit analysis, but I'm a bit of a petrol/classic car fan so I'll be buying ICE until petrol is prohibitively expensive (and probably beyond).

My advice is do it if you can afford it. Just the ability to run the AC all day every day feels like such a luxury to me and has massively improved comfort levels over the hot summers. Walking through the front door after work on a 40 degree day into a wall of ice cold air is so much better than walking into a hot stuffy house and knowing it's going to be a sweaty night's sleep.

Overall price of the system was around $10k so it should pay itself off within a few years, much sooner than its expected lifespan.

[PeFe]

The first stage of the Project Connect line between South Australia and New South Wales is about to start transmitting small amounts of electricity.

The whole line is expected to be up and running in 2027.

From Renew Economy

New transmission line linking most renewable state with biggest coal state about to start operations



The first stage of one of Australia’s most significant transmission projects – Project EnergyConnect – is about to start operations, linking the country’s most advanced renewable state South Australia with the most coal dependent, NSW.

The first stage of Project EnergyConnect – being built by ElectraNet and Transgrid – has completed its hold point testing and will allow up to 150 MW of capacity to be traded between South Australia and NSW, with a spur line also going into Victoria. It could start operations as soon as the end of this week.

It is one of the key transmission projects identified by the Australian Energy Market Operator in its Integrated System Plan, which identifies 5,000 kms of new transmission lines to support the shift to renewables.

It will particularly signifiant for South Australia, because it will provide a much needed new link that will enable its progression from an already world-leading share of 72 per cent wind and solar to its accelerated target of 100 per cent net wind and solar by the end of 2027.

NSW, on the other hand, has the most coal capacity in its grid with more than 8 GW, although Queensland pips it in terms of coal share of the grid output. Most of NSW’s coal plants are due to retire in the next decade, and the state government is looking at building enough wind, solar and storage to replace that capacity.

The addition of the new line to NSW will also allow more capacity to be supported on the current main link, the Heywood Interconnector. This in turn means that more wind and solar can be exported, rather than stored or curtailed, and more power can be imported when needed, rather than burning gas locally.

The second stage of the PEC will lift the capacity to around 800MW, but will not be fully operational until the end of 2027. That part of the project, in NSW, has been hit by cost blow outs and delays – factors that are affecting other major transmission projects across the country.

There is also frustration that PEC features only a 330kV line, rather than a 500kV line, which limits the amount of power that can be shared between the two states, and will limit the capacity of new wind and solar in the key south-west renewable energy zone in NSW.

Some project developers have proposed building giant “virtual batteries” at each end of the transmission line to allow it to support more capacity. Big batteries act as a kind of shock absorber, because of their rapid response, so can allow the market operator to run the transmission line at full capacity.

However, when PEC is completed, the combined transfer limit across the Heywood and PEC interconnectors will be 1,300 MW for imports into South Australia, and 1,350 MW for exports.

AEMO said in a note to stakeholders on Tuesday that inter-networking testing is due to start from July 1, 2026, with full capacity anticipated from the final quarter of 2027.

AEMO has had to introduced a number of changes to its complex settlement systems to deal with the new transmission connections.

It says the 900kms transmission line – when complete – will deliver a range of direct benefits for consumers including lower power prices and improved energy security.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/new-transmi ... perations/

[SBD]

Koutsantonis was on the radio this morning heavily critical of the Marshall government and Vincent Tarzia over the cost and time blowouts for the project. Electranet completed the SA section 15 months ago on time and in budget. Is SA on the hook for paying anything towards the Transgrid errors and "unforseen events"? We ought to be compensated by Transgrid for it failing to deliver electricity as planned!

[PeFe]

South Australia pays for its section of the build.....if the SA section cost 80 million more to build then South Australia pays for it.

If the New South Wales section went 200 million over budget then NSW pays for it.

[SBD]

South Australia pays for its section of the build.....if the SA section cost 80 million more to build then South Australia pays for it.

If the New South Wales section went 200 million over budget then NSW pays for it.

So SA section was completed in December 2023 by Electranet, within the budget (as it stood at that time). Cost blowouts belong to NSW Transgrid, the same people as the Snowy 2.0 build. Koutsantonis was blowing hot air about SA Liberals instead of complaining that a project first conceived in 2016 has been a white elephant until NSW finally provided somewhere to connect it. NSW elected an ALP government in March 2023.

[PeFe]

Proposed new largest wind farm plus 8 hour batteries, near Whyalla.

From Renew Economy

Biggest wind farm and two eight hour batteries slated for Australia’s most advanced renewable state



South Australia has a new contender for the biggest wind farm in the state, with plans for an up to 1.2 gigawatt (GW) project with two, eight-hour big batteries appearing in the federal government’s environmental assessment queue on Tuesday.

Australian developer Tilt Renewables is proposing to install up to 148 wind turbines on sheep grazing land roughly 10 km west of the steel city of Whyalla, as part of a project called the Nonowie wind farm.

The up to 1.2 GW wind project would pip the Goyder projects to be the biggest in what is by far Australia’s most renewable-powered state – at least in terms of wind and solar, which has averaged 72 per cent over the past 12 months. Tasmania usually produces more renewables, but mostly with hydro.

The Nonowie project also includes two battery energy storage systems (BESS), each with up to 300 megawatts of capacity and up to eight hours of storage duration. They would be the first eight-hour batteries in South Australia if they go ahead.

The proposed location of the project is strategically significant, being close to the industrial centre of Whyalla, which is home to one of only two Australian steelworks and – as the producer of 75% of Australian structural steel – holds huge potential for green steel manufacturing.

According to Tilt’s plans, the proposed site is “naturally bisected” into a north and south area by the Lincoln Highway, allowing the wind farm to be designed with staged development, with a substation and BESS located in each.



In its referral for assessment under the federal government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPCB) Act, Tilt says the proposed project area is “heavily constrained,” particularly concerning the placement of the 250 metre tall turbines.

Tilt says the constraints include allowances for electromagnetic interference (EMI) links, existing utilities, hydrology and aviation protected zones, which, along with construction and technical considerations, have directly informed the project’s design.

An established avoidance area includes land associated with an existing heritage agreement and significant environmental benefit, where no infrastructure or disturbance will occur.

Tilt says the land proposed to host the project – the traditional lands of the Barngarla People – has a post-European settlement history of agriculture and sheep and cattle grazing and is currently used for a combination of agricultural and pastoral activities.

Roughly 97% of the subregion is mapped as remnant native vegetation, of which 8% is formally conserved.

The referral says surveys of the shorebird area adjacent to the project area have identified 10 migratory/marine bird species protected under the EPBC Act, including the endangered Common Greenshank and the vulnerable Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

The documents say the 90 metre-long wind turbine blades would be transported to the project site from either the Port of Whyalla or the Port of Adelaide, with minimal vegetation trimming and/or removal necessary along the delivery route.

Tilt says it estimates that – if approved – construction of Nonowie Wind Farm would begin in late 2029 and be completed late 2032 and have a commercial life of 30 years.

By that time, the state of South Australia will have already reached its target (2027) of 100 per cent net renewables, and may be chasing the title of green energy superpower in terms of supplying renewables for green steel and other zero emissions manufacturing projects.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/biggest-win ... ble-state/

And last Saturday was the largest wind power output ever achieved in South Australia.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-austr ... -capacity/

[Algernon]

Re: Nonowie batteries:

Grinds my gears a little when articles list the capacities but do not explicitly state whether they are referring to the overall or hourly capacity.

https://www.energy-storage.news/tilt-re ... -epbc-act/

The details are clearer here:

Nonowie Wind Farm site’s north and south substations. Individually, these would provide 300MW and storage of up to 8-hour duration, equating to around 4,800MWh of storage capacity.

So, that's roughly a quarter of SA demand that can be supplied for 8 hours in a day. Wow.

Hope this one is built soon.