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Australia has the most expensive energy bills

macrobusiness.com.au

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Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#181

Post by taway_1212 »

dwhitworth1 wrote: post #29
chrisper wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>That said, I much prefer living in Australia to the U.S., especially while raising a family. Why is that?

A number of reasons: 1. Safety. I don't hear gunfire on New Year's Eve, like we used to in L.A. and some places I lived in Orange County as well. Someone getting shot is almost national news here. 2. Government support. If I lost my job I wouldn't have to worry about how to pay for health services. We're a healthy family, but peace of mind is great. 3. Government support. My 7 year old was diagnosed with mild ASD, AD…

> 2. Government support. If I lost my job I wouldn't have to worry about how to pay for health services.

Isn't there a health program in the US (Medicaid?) specifically for people with limited/no income? Is it insufficient?

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#182

Post by surfmike »

yakult wrote: post #27
aplummer wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australia does actually have the highest level of home solar installation in the world. Unrelated to very low government investment in it.

I suspect that's actually part of the problem: a massive buildout of renewables without full accounting or planning for the complications to the grid, i.e. all the shock loads and lack of storage. Then the consumer is left footing the bill. At the same time, we have signed long-term LNG contracts while simultaneously large gas projects are delayed by various red tape and doesn't look like it'll clear up any time soon…

Powerwall would certainly help with storage, wouldn't it? And consumers have an incentive to buy Powerwall to decrease the amount of power they need to buy from the grid.

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#183

Post by yakult »

surfmike wrote: post #182
yakult wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect that's actually part of the problem: a massive buildout of renewables without full accounting or planning for the complications to the grid, i.e. all the shock loads and lack of storage. Then the consumer is left footing the bill. At the same time, we have signed long-term LNG contracts while simultaneously large gas projects are delayed by various red tape and doesn't look like it'll clear up any time soon…

Powerwall would certainly help with storage, wouldn't it? And consumers have an incentive to buy Powerwall to decrease the amount of power they need to buy from the grid.

Numbers don't make sense yet. Plus it takes up space, is a fire hazard, and I am doubtful the 10-yr+ warranties will actually hold up past year 5, especially for third parties.

Right now it's mostly for conspicuous consumption and virtue signalling. Those of us number nerds are waiting for the tech to improve and the price to drop more. A move off toxic/flammable lithium tech would be good too.

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#184

Post by greglindahl »

yakult wrote: post #183
surfmike wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Powerwall would certainly help with storage, wouldn't it? And consumers have an incentive to buy Powerwall to decrease the amount of power they need to buy from the grid.

Numbers don't make sense yet. Plus it takes up space, is a fire hazard, and I am doubtful the 10-yr+ warranties will actually hold up past year 5, especially for third parties. Right now it's mostly for conspicuous consumption and virtue signalling. Those of us number nerds are waiting for the tech to improve and the price to drop more. A move off toxic/flammable lithium tech would be good too.

Huh. Well, you'd better call these people and tell them to cancel the order: https://electrek.co/2017/06/17/tesla-powerpack-australian-el...

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#185

Post by aplummer »

askvictor wrote: post #19
aplummer wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australia does actually have the highest level of home solar installation in the world. Unrelated to very low government investment in it.

What about the massive massive rebates that were available a few years back to drive uptake? Not direct govt investment, but with a similar effect - people got some money back from the govt when they installed solar, then the govt mandated a high feed-in tariff for some years (has since dropped/been abolished)

You're right this is correct. I was thinking about commercial infrastructure aka power plants but said the wrong thing.

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#186

Post by yakult »

greglindahl wrote: post #184
yakult wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Numbers don't make sense yet. Plus it takes up space, is a fire hazard, and I am doubtful the 10-yr+ warranties will actually hold up past year 5, especially for third parties. Right now it's mostly for conspicuous consumption and virtue signalling. Those of us number nerds are waiting for the tech to improve and the price to drop more. A move off toxic/flammable lithium tech would be good too.

Huh. Well, you'd better call these people and tell them to cancel the order: https://electrek.co/2017/06/17/tesla-powerpack-australian-el...

Meanwhile in America: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Roadways

Unlike that debacle, this might even make economic sense once you factor in the government rebates/sweetheart deals and the PR bonus. Alas, nobody gives me anything on the side for buying a powerwall.

Re: Australia has the most expensive energy bills

#187

Post by shirro »

sundvor wrote: post #21

I live in Victoria, Australia. Energy bills are through the roof - almost literally as "insulation" is a thing just about no-one here has any competence with. Whatsoever. I'm talking about builders and building code designers specifically. Ironically (see the top and bottom positions of the chart), I spent the first 40% of my life in Norway where things do get proper cold as opposed to in Australia where it's accepte…

I live across the border in SA. I don't think insulation is the whole story. If it is cold I just put more clothes on. We spend nothing on heating the house. I don't know that I would want to pay more for houses to get them better insulated in a country where housing affordability is getting beyond most people and the weather is mild most of the year.

We do spend a bit on air conditioning (we sometimes get several days in a row over 40C) but the difference between winter and summer bills is not that great. Our bills are still very high. We have just replaced our fridge and water heater and I am hoping newer, more efficient appliances will help.

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