Outrageous Electricity rise

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Flash is right-people should take advantage of solar power rebates and subsidies. Its quite remarkable what a simple 1.5KW system will make to your bills, and these systems are now half the price I paid ($3000.00) Solar electricity should be actively encouraged by governments instead of wasting tons of money on NBN,etc.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

I have not read any of the previous comments but you lot with solar panels making it cheaper.....well someone has to make up the shortfall...

[Larryp (Laurie)]

We simply took up an offer by the state govt., which was available to everyone else as well.
The point I am trying to make is that solar should be subsidised to the point everyone can have it-a possible use for the despised carbon tax?
Think of the reduction in pressure on the existing generator capacity that this would provide.

[marki]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Gday Mark



Hmmm lets see.
For a long time, WA was a basket case ( economically ),
supported by money from the East.
Now the boots on the other foot.

I suppose ( if you were a sovereign nation )
you may have suffered a "takeover" before you got rich,
and we would be speaking with someone else
Maybe if they sold "us" LNG at the same rates you sell it to the Japanese and Chinese, our energy would be cheaper???

Andrew ( really a croweater, but love a good interstate barney )

Very much tongue in cheek Andrew, just pointing out how far the stats really are from the truth and the recent statements made by big red i.e we should all share in this great minning boom etc etc. For those West Australians not involved directly with minning life sucks. Prices here are sky high based on the assumption we are all earning 350K per year. Building, manufacturing, retail etc are all screwed but we do have the fastest growing economy in the world. Now it is a fedral agenda to let you all share in our pain. Wonder what would happen if China stopped buying?

Mark

[AndrewJ]

Gday Mark

Nothings changed then
When i was at Karratha in 86, a two bedroom townhouse cost nearly $400 per week. The locals couldnt compete.
There was a good discussion on local radio last night here re
the "flyin flyout" offers being made to get people to move west
but when they see what the cost of moving and living is,
they say no thanks. Its only a small percentage getting the big bucks
but they sure earn it.
On a side note, i remember a quote made by ( Bondy i think )
after everything crashed back then.
It was pointed out to them that WA was a basket case etc etc etc
by an "east coast" reporter.
He quipped, something like
"We're both down the drain. We had a party, what have you got to show for it??"
Gotta luv that attitude

Wonder what would happen if China stopped buying?

Not IF but when. I guess there will be a lot of people unemployed.

Andrew

PS Can you still get spares for your D9 at the local corner shops?????

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

Great advice. Speak the truth, and you'll get the obligatory lecture from the usual suspects who are far out of tune with the reality facing many Australians.

After all, what's a $200 increase in electricity bill every few months for someone that owns an OTA more expensive than most people's cars eh?
News flash, the average battler doesn't give a crap about what the min wage-to average ratio is, how we compare to other OECD or whatever nations, or how we have the highest life expectancy after Japan... doesn't change the fact that prices here are sky high relative to many other nations and said prices are increasing almost exponentially. A $550-600 weekly wage doesn't go very far at all here, factor in $250-300 for rent, $100 for food, $50 for fuel, plus a few for other necessities, and you dont have very much to play with at all. Buying a house on that wage, forget it. Fancy numbers are not going to put food on the table or erase the fact that electricity costs hundreds more than it used to be for people trying to make ends meet.

Anyway, I shall steer clear of this thread from now

Ok, I'm trying to understand where you are coming from.
In your previous post you specifically attributed the destruction of Australia to Julia Gillard &/or the Labour government in general (I'm not sure which). I posted OECD figures which showed that Australia, far from being destroyed is actually an economic poster child compared to everyone else in the world given the state of the world economy.
In response, you suggest that these are not the pertinent markers to judge the situation objectively. Well, I disagree but wont argue the point.
On the other hand, the markers that you suggest are relevant are interesting and deserve some contemplation.

Let's see how they stack up against your assertion of Australian economic disaster at the hands of Julia Gillard:

Housing price:

The period of dramatic inflation happened BEFORE the current political party took office at the start of 08 and ironically, fell for the the 12 months following that election. Not that that had anything to do with the choices made by, or influence of, the federal government. The fact that global housing prices show strong correlation to Australian house prices indicates that in the absence of some local catalysing event, ie) sub-prime crash - USA, or the Chinese driven resources boom in Australia, the federal government doesn't have that much impact in the whole scheme of things, so it isn't really fair to criticise (or praise them) for the lion's share of what happens on the street.

Fuel pricing:
I know this is a favourite whipping horse of yours... Joolia threatening your God given right to tow a caravan around at your whim with her insane fuel price agenda...


But wait a second...

Fuel is cheaper for us now than it was in 2008. even with no adjustment for inflation AND a carbon price ...
So you'll forgive me if I suggest that I am still struggling to see your point...

As for electricity prices, are these determined at a Federal level...?
No...

So the way I see it, Australia has not been destroyed in the terms that you stipulate and certainly not at the hands of the federal government.

That is not to say that I think they are deserving of scathing criticism (both sides of the political spectrum), but let's be realistic when it comes to apportioning blame and the underlying factors that determine our quality of life.

Emotive and poorly conceived rants serve no purpose other than to confuse the issues facing us and can only lead to poor choices being made in the future.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Now Clive, I hear what you are saying and accept your clear supporting evidence but I... just..... can't..... stop.... sa..ying..compl...ete...unssssus... bstantiiii...ated ruuu...bbish ...anyway I' believe Andrew Bolt and I am sticking with him cause that's just how it is cause he says so, so it must be

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Now Clive, I hear what you are saying and accept your clear supporting evidence but I... just..... can't..... stop.... sa..ying..compl...ete...unssssus... bstantiiii...ated ruuu...bbish ...anyway I' believe Andrew Bolt and I am sticking with him cause that's just how it is cause he says so, so it must be

Classic...

btw Mike, If you are up Cairns way in November... let me shout you a beer.

best,

~c

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by koputai

Yes, it's bad that prices are going up, of course.

BUT, there is something everyone can do about it........

Use less electricity! Australians are very wasteful, not only of electricity, but water, food, their inteligence, other people's money.....

If you want a smaller power bill, be more sensible about your usage.

Cheers,
Jason.

Don't know how to be more frugal than we are and still getting large bills. Last one paid a week ago was 800+ and we are t home 12 hours a day. Leave at 6am get home 6pm no lights left on all power points are turned off 1 maybe 2 lights at night TV off at 10 pm turned down the temp on hot water to 60 degrees (was set at 75 by previous tenant) no aircon or heaters. What more can I do?

Adrian

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

Don't know how to be more frugal than we are and still getting large bills. Last one paid a week ago was 800+ and we are t home 12 hours a day. Leave at 6am get home 6pm no lights left on all power points are turned off 1 maybe 2 lights at night TV off at 10 pm turned down the temp on hot water to 60 degrees (was set at 75 by previous tenant) no aircon or heaters. What more can I do?

Adrian

Hi Adrian,
That sounds incredible ?
Do you check that the readings on the bill agree to your power meters?
How many KwHrs did they bill you for on that bill?
Is your Hot Water Off Peak? Is that separate on the bill?
What is the split up of the bill?
What is the Rate per KwHr they have charged for each split?
Is that for three months?
How many people live in your house?
Do you run exterior (flood lighting?
No halogen lights I hope (down lights etc) they burn it up.
Electric clothes dryer? They chew up power like crazy too.
[I am a retired Accountant (can't you tell) and I would love to do the math on that bill]

I have a meter that I bought from Bunnings that transmits the usage real time. It is good to have that to see when your usage spikes. I think it is called a "Cent-o-meter"

I check the outside meter readings to the bill, to the previous bill and to my "Cent-o-meter" readings. We try to do as much off peak as possible (washing, dishwashing, battery recharging). I agree, there is only so much you can do. But being aware of what is using the power is a start.

Regards
Allan

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

Don't know how to be more frugal than we are and still getting large bills. Last one paid a week ago was 800+ and we are t home 12 hours a day. Leave at 6am get home 6pm no lights left on all power points are turned off 1 maybe 2 lights at night TV off at 10 pm turned down the temp on hot water to 60 degrees (was set at 75 by previous tenant) no aircon or heaters. What more can I do?

Adrian

Adrian ... $800 + I'd be getting an electrician in to check the ' Meters ' ... as you say ... no aircon or heaters. What more can I do?. Something is really wrong here .. I take it you only have 1 TV ( I know people who have 2 or more )... and your using low wattage energy light bulbs I take it... which is a good step.

I do know that ' electric hot water systems ' have the highest ' tarriff ' ... that's from first hand knowledge. When I still had mine ... even when I had the Solar Panels on the roof ... the very next power bill showed I still had to pay $90.00 for 3 months power usage .... $70.00 of that was for hot water heating.... got rid of the electric system ... put in a solar system ... next power bill ... $144.50 in credit.... nothing to pay... got another power bill just recently ( 3 day's ago ) ... now $213.47 in credit.

Don't use clothes dryers ( only if you really have to .. eg .. raining etc )..they ' gobble ' power also.

Turn everything ' off ' at the wall .. when not in use... including TV's .. Microwaves.. Computers ( don't turn the Modem/Router off .. if it is a 'stand alone ' unit )... any unnecessary lights .. yes.. and even the 2nd fridge ( if you can go without it )... trim everything up to the ' bare ' necessity .

Now .. one other matter I have heard and was reported on National Television ... Where you live and depending on your Post Code ... some areas are ' paying ' more for their power than other Post Codes.
If this is true ... that stinks ( discrimination ).

It might not be as easy for you Adrian .. it appears by what you have written you are ' renting ' .

In closing .... ANYTHING LEFT ON ' STANDBY ' will still consume power ...TURN IT OFF completely.

Food for thought Adrian ..!!

Hope it get's a whole lot better for you ... Flash

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by Kevnool

I have not read any of the previous comments but you lot with solar panels making it cheaper.....well someone has to make up the shortfall...

NO SHORTFALL possible!
That's what the immigration intake is for,
as well as annually over 50,000 new residents in Victoria alone.....

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

Don't know how to be more frugal than we are and still getting large bills. Last one paid a week ago was 800+ and we are t home 12 hours a day. Leave at 6am get home 6pm no lights left on all power points are turned off 1 maybe 2 lights at night TV off at 10 pm turned down the temp on hot water to 60 degrees (was set at 75 by previous tenant) no aircon or heaters. What more can I do?

Adrian

At $800.00 a quarter that'd be around 20kWh per day. Do you leave computers on? Kids? A desktop will chew 2kWh in 4h easy. Use your laptop if you can. Check your fridge/freezer as well. I assume you'd have all your lighting changed to LED already?

[Ric]

I'm looking into a grid feed wind turbine for our property at the moment.

It's a 2.4KW system which requires as little as 4kph to start up and as long as the wind is blowing it's feeding the grid day and night.

Our local council is a bit slow, I wanted to get some info out of them and they kept on referencing windmills. I must have told them 10 times "It's a wind turbine"

[casstony]

Originally Posted by marki

Wonder what would happen if China stopped buying?
Mark

I don't think we'll have to wonder for too much longer - they can only build real estate that nobody can afford for so long, then the 'miracle' will disappear from our economy. At least then we'll be forced to stop using up natural resources for no constructive purpose.

Also Clive, we've been set up for a fall by successive governments; first home buyers grants and loans on easy terms from banks pushed house prices to double their long term historical worth. Once Australia joins the reality of the rest of the world that housing debt will be an enormous burden.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Ric

I'm looking into a grid feed wind turbine for our property at the moment.

It's a 2.4KW system which requires as little as 4kph to start up and as long as the wind is blowing it's feeding the grid day and night.

Our local council is a bit slow, I wanted to get some info out of them and they kept on referencing windmills. I must have told them 10 times "It's a wind turbine"

That's an idea. I wonder if it would be possible to mod or manufacture all those roof wheelies heat extractors to feed the grid. There are sh||t loads of them everywhere both in industrial areas and residential. There must be power in numbers.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

My tip? Everyone on the internet has access to electronic banking through the institution they're with. Pay your electricity and gas bills weekly via BPay as a periodic payment. Divide up an average year by 52 and pay that each week. Tiny amount - no surprises or major headaches at bill time. My last bill when it arrived was $68 - an easy to fix shortfall.

I do this too for all my major bills including rates on two properties - at tens of dollars per week and that's plenty.

[casstony]

Rather than use tax payers money to subsidise current solar installations, I'd prefer the govt to be fast tracking development of the newer technology panels which are cheaper to produce - then let homeowners buy solar installations just because it makes sense, not because the govt is handing out money again. Of course if they wanted to subsidise something worthwhile like telescopes and eyepieces under the guise of promoting science, well, that would be ok.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by casstony

Rather than use tax payers money to subsidise current solar installations, I'd prefer the govt to be fast tracking development of the newer technology panels which are cheaper to produce - then let homeowners buy solar installations just because it makes sense, not because the govt is handing out money again. Of course if they wanted to subsidise something worthwhile like telescopes and eyepieces under the guise of promoting science, well, that would be ok.

I think part of the current price rise is because we all have a contractual obligation to pay people who got in the game early and got a buy back rate greater than the current 20c/Kwh or there about. Any rate between 60c and 20c was unsustainable and as Kev said earlier the money has to come from somewhere which is everyone. It was a mistake in the first place to set a buy back rate greater than the actual cost.

In the long run when the technology comes down in price everything will eventually level out I guess.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

I think part of the current price rise is because we all have a contractual obligation to pay people who got in the game early and got a buy back rate greater than the current 20c/Kwh or there about. Any rate between 60c and 20c was unsustainable and as Kev said earlier the money has to come from somewhere which is everyone. It was a mistake in the first place to set a buy back rate greater than the actual cost.

In the long run when the technology comes down in price everything will eventually level out I guess.

The Power Generators (where I worked for 20 years) only produce to demand.
The Power Distributors only purchase what was used by their customers.

There is no "Shortfall".

If you have Solar Panels, and you give out what you put back, then there should be no "cost that has to be made up by the rest of the customers".

My panels produce mostly during peak time, when I am being charged 46c per KwHr. (Soon to be increased by 18% from July). I agree it should have been fixed to the Peak Rate. But it is fixed and I expect the Peak rate to exceed 60c shortly (carbon tax + new infrastructure charges).

The Hype and the Distributors crying Poor Mouth is due to an "opportunity cost". The fact they can buy from the grid at a much lower figure than they are forced to "buy" from us is irrelevant. The fact is they don't have to buy from the grid what they sell to me, so the comparison should be between what they charge me for my own power, compared to what they pay me for it.

Thats my opinion anyway, and my credentials for my opinion are that I am a Chartered Accountant (who worked for the Electricity Commission).