29 April

The energy market regulator has a dilemma. Paying for network upkeep is done on the basis of a daily supply charge based on how much electricity people use. But because millions of Australians have now installed solar and batteries, their usage is very low or even zero (or they're next exporters to the grid). The genius current 'plan' from the regulator is to give everybody a much bigger, fixed daily supply charge, to make up the gap. This is outrageously stupid in a couple of ways. Mostly because it will mean that a large wealthy household, with no solar or batteries, using a lot of electricity, will have a dramatic drop in their bills. While a poorer household that's invested in solar and batteries will pay hundreds of dollars more per year. It's like the argument that EVs should have a road user charge because they're apparently freeloading on road maintenance (because they don't pay fuel excise). Australians are investing in renewable technology and EVs to transform the economy and stop us being incinerated by climate change, at the same time. Taxes and penalties should be concentrated on the fossil fuel, non-renewable behaviours.