[LINK] Electricity prices

[Richard Chirgwin]

You're right, Michael.

If I treat the USA as a single country, ditto Australia, then:

1. Australia is #5 on the list.
2. The US is still near the bottom
3. Australia is about 27% above the median for all countries.

I'd also note that there isn't any particularly strong correlation 
between electricity per kWh and the economy as a whole. There's some 
good performers (eg Denmark) with v. high prices and some poor 
performers (Greece, the USA) with low prices.

RC

On 21/03/12 6:22 PM, Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net wrote:
> On 21 March 2012 16:46,<stephen at melbpc.org.au>  wrote:
>> "Australians Now Pay Near to the Highest Electricity Prices in the World"
>>
>> http://www.euaa.com.au/whats_new/index.htm
>> http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2012/s3460106.htm
>>
> I don't argue that Australians pay pretty high power bills, and we get
> a pretty high grade of service (the power just works>99.99% of the
> time).
> This report is a little disengenious, however, comparing Australian
> prices to EU averages, the US and Japan to reach its conclusions.
> Instead, checking the table per country, we see Australia's most
> expensive state is still below Denmark and Germany. If one were to
> take the Australia wide average (as has been taken for all other
> countries except the US) it would appear we pay around what the
> Cypriots, Danes, Japanese, Swedes, Belgians, Italians and Austrians
> pay, give or take a couple of cents.
> And if the US was listed as a single entity instead of 50 states,
> their 14c average kWh charge would be low, but would eliminate 49 of
> the entries with cheaper power than Australia.
> So, on the whole, Australia pays a bit above average for OECD countries.
> The report also notes there is a substantial exchange rate effect
> (mineral boom times), and when compared using purchasing power parity
> figure, we pay about what other countries do, North America being a
> notable exception.
> I don't feel especially outraged.
>
> Regards,
> Michael Skeggs
> _______________________________________________
> Link mailing list
> Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
>