[LINK] Electricity prices

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Richard notes

> 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 don't feel especially outraged.


So we are fifth. Victoria de-regulated power retail-arms several years 
ago. Yet charges have risen significantly in the same time period. And
we are told they will rise yet again by anything up to 30% on July 1st.

We're also told the Victorian 'Smart Meter' required, and paid for, at 
our house does NOT support back-feeding solar power to the local grids. 
We had no choice as to this meter, it is the standard issue. Brilliant. 

Personally we always pay from $94 to $96 per month so it's no big deal
for us. But there are people here to whom it DOES matter let alone for
long-suffering Victorian manufacturing in trying to remain competitive.

Deregulation will reduce these high charges? Not in our Vic experience.
We can reduce by installing solar panels? No. And soon, the carbon tax.
   
What's not to be peeved about? Not for us personally, but for Victoria.

Any thinking expensive power is good for the environment and therefore
a necessary initiative sure do seem to have quite limited perspectives.

This situation is farcial. 

Regards,
Stephen