[LINK] The Smart Meters are coming to get us!

Richard Chirgwin rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au
Fri Oct 19 18:41:52 AEDT 2012


On 19/10/12 5:18 PM, Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
> Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net wrote:
> <snip>
>> The cost of grid power for me is getting up to near 30c per kWh inc
>> GST, so at 10kWh per day about $1100 p.a. All this suggests the grid
>> still has some life in it, but it off-grid is getting more viable. 10
>> years ago the same calculation would have been absurd.
>> For me, the interesting point is that if power prices go up a bit
>> more, and solar panel and battery prices fall a bit more, the
>> infection point will be reached and the utilites' economics that rely
>> on everyone being connected will start to break down.
> <snip>
>
> The main cost of grid power is the connection fee. The proportion
> of your grid electricity charges you can influence is too small. This
> encourages/subsidises high energy use and discourages energy efficient
> design/product selection.
>
> Government policies which enabled wider takeup of Solar (perhaps even
> through incentives for Energy companies to lease roof space). Energy
> shaping (capped/shaped consumption), through smart controls and circuits
> and a National Grid with Solar/Wind/Hydro/Landfill Methane would also help.
>
> We really need more qualified electricians - perhaps even electricare.
>
> My pet topic is do we need such a large fridge - we should be comparing
> total energy use not just efficiency. Models are a bit out of date, but you
> should get the idea - smaller fridges use less energy (and waste less food).
> <http://www.ramin.com.au/eco-sydney/carbon.shtml#fridge-elec-use>
>
> These kinds of schemes may also help
> <http://www.fridgebuyback.com.au/>
>
> Marghanita
Or there's this:

http://mtbest.net/chest_fridge.html

Buy a chest freezer, convert it to a refrigerator. A loss of 
convenience, a vast gain in efficiency.

RC



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