dwyer
Guru
Joined: 19/09/2005
Location: AustraliaPosts: 573 |
| Posted: 11:58pm 04 May 2007 |
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Hi Everyone I just got some news this morning and give everyone to read First little johnny want to spend million dollor over Work reform IR plus over the past years travelling overseas on tax payer's money instead spending money on building Dam and also looking after our water but to late now . 
  HOUSEHOLDS face higher electricity bills from next year unless the drought breaks, with power stations across southeast Australia running out of the water needed to run steam turbines.
The new higher prices are estimated to be the same as a $40a tonne carbon tax, and if sustained, could affect the viability of some energy-intensive industries even before a carbon price is introduced.
Major energy users are negotiating new wholesale electricity contracts for next year that are in some cases double what they were offered this year as the market factors in a risk premium for water supplies.
Two power stations in Queensland have already been forced to cut supplies, while two more in NSW are under increased threat from falling water stores.
Hydro-electricity supplies from Tasmania and the Snowy have been cut because of severe falls in water stocks.
Wholesale electricity prices across the national grid have risen sharply since January, with a strong economy driving increased demand, while supply has been unable to keep pace.
The price squeeze is likely to hit some energy retailers who are buying at higher prices, but are required to sell to households at fixed retail prices set by independent regulators.
The Energy Users Association of Australia represents major industrial users. Chief executive Roman Domanski said the price of electricity had become even more water-dependent with the introduction of Tasmania into the national system. "If the drought goes on, then this is going to get even more serious," Mr Domanski said.
"What we're seeing now is the equivalent of a carbon price of $40, which if continued on will decimate a lot of industries."
The supply shortage has been exacerbated by the autumn round of power station maintenance, which has knocked about 3000MW temporarily offline.
About 800MW of lost capacity was caused by water scarcity at the Tarong and Swanbank power stations in Queensland, while Delta Electricity's Mt Piper and Wallerawang power stations in NSW are sitting on water reserves down to about 20 per cent.
Delta Electricity said its older 1000MW Wallerawang station near Lithgow might have to cut supplies if water conditions worsened, although at this stage it was on track to meet the production targets for next financial year.
National Generators Forum director John Boshier said that while there was no increased threat of blackouts because of the drought, prices were unlikely to come down until there was significant rain.
"The drought is having a dramatic effect on electricity generation," he said.
More than 800MW of coal generators are not producing because there is a shortage of water to cool them.
The hydro generators - Snowy, Southern Hydro and Hydro Tasmania - have also had their output greatly reduced because of the drought.
"Until the drought breaks, I don't see anything to cause prices to go down," Mr Boshier said.
HOUSEHOLDS face higher electricity bills from next year unless the drought breaks, with power stations across southeast Australia running out of the water needed to run steam turbines.
The new higher prices are estimated to be the same as a $40a tonne carbon tax, and if sustained, could affect the viability of some energy-intensive industries even before a carbon price is introduced.
Major energy users are negotiating new wholesale electricity contracts for next year that are in some cases double what they were offered this year as the market factors in a risk premium for water supplies.
Two power stations in Queensland have already been forced to cut supplies, while two more in NSW are under increased threat from falling water stores.
Hydro-electricity supplies from Tasmania and the Snowy have been cut because of severe falls in water stocks.
Wholesale electricity prices across the national grid have risen sharply since January, with a strong economy driving increased demand, while supply has been unable to keep pace.
The price squeeze is likely to hit some energy retailers who are buying at higher prices, but are required to sell to households at fixed retail prices set by independent regulators.
The Energy Users Association of Australia represents major industrial users. Chief executive Roman Domanski said the price of electricity had become even more water-dependent with the introduction of Tasmania into the national system. "If the drought goes on, then this is going to get even more serious," Mr Domanski said.
"What we're seeing now is the equivalent of a carbon price of $40, which if continued on will decimate a lot of industries."
The supply shortage has been exacerbated by the autumn round of power station maintenance, which has knocked about 3000MW temporarily offline.
About 800MW of lost capacity was caused by water scarcity at the Tarong and Swanbank power stations in Queensland, while Delta Electricity's Mt Piper and Wallerawang power stations in NSW are sitting on water reserves down to about 20 per cent.
Delta Electricity said its older 1000MW Wallerawang station near Lithgow might have to cut supplies if water conditions worsened, although at this stage it was on track to meet the production targets for next financial year.
National Generators Forum director John Boshier said that while there was no increased threat of blackouts because of the drought, prices were unlikely to come down until there was significant rain.
"The drought is having a dramatic effect on electricity generation," he said.
More than 800MW of coal generators are not producing because there is a shortage of water to cool them.
The hydro generators - Snowy, Southern Hydro and Hydro Tasmania - have also had their output greatly reduced because of the drought.
"Until the drought breaks, I don't see anything to cause prices to go down," Mr Boshier said.
HOUSEHOLDS face higher electricity bills from next year unless the drought breaks, with power stations across southeast Australia running out of the water needed to run steam turbines.
The new higher prices are estimated to be the same as a $40a tonne carbon tax, and if sustained, could affect the viability of some energy-intensive industries even before a carbon price is introduced.
Major energy users are negotiating new wholesale electricity contracts for next year that are in some cases double what they were offered this year as the market factors in a risk premium for water supplies.
Two power stations in Queensland have already been forced to cut supplies, while two more in NSW are under increased threat from falling water stores.
Hydro-electricity supplies from Tasmania and the Snowy have been cut because of severe falls in water stocks.
Wholesale electricity prices across the national grid have risen sharply since January, with a strong economy driving increased demand, while supply has been unable to keep pace.
The price squeeze is likely to hit some energy retailers who are buying at higher prices, but are required to sell to households at fixed retail prices set by independent regulators.
The Energy Users Association of Australia represents major industrial users. Chief executive Roman Domanski said the price of electricity had become even more water-dependent with the introduction of Tasmania into the national system. "If the drought goes on, then this is going to get even more serious," Mr Domanski said.
"What we're seeing now is the equivalent of a carbon price of $40, which if continued on will decimate a lot of industries."
The supply shortage has been exacerbated by the autumn round of power station maintenance, which has knocked about 3000MW temporarily offline.
About 800MW of lost capacity was caused by water scarcity at the Tarong and Swanbank power stations in Queensland, while Delta Electricity's Mt Piper and Wallerawang power stations in NSW are sitting on water reserves down to about 20 per cent.
Delta Electricity said its older 1000MW Wallerawang station near Lithgow might have to cut supplies if water conditions worsened, although at this stage it was on track to meet the production targets for next financial year.
National Generators Forum director John Boshier said that while there was no increased threat of blackouts because of the drought, prices were unlikely to come down until there was significant rain.
"The drought is having a dramatic effect on electricity generation," he said.
More than 800MW of coal generators are not producing because there is a shortage of water to cool them.
The hydro generators - Snowy, Southern Hydro and Hydro Tasmania - have also had their output greatly reduced because of the drought.
"Until the drought breaks, I don't see anything to cause prices to go down," Mr Boshier said.
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