Many Novacastrians Paying More for Electricity Bills this Week

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Some Newcastle residents will be paying more for electricity this week, following a number of letters being sent out by Energy Australia warning of a price hike.

Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon said she was contacted by a number of residents who received letters from Energy Australia, warning of the increase as a result of increasing supply costs.

Energy Australia states in the letter, "After two years of holding prices flat while supply costs have increased significantly, we've made the difficult decision to adjust our prices with inflation."

The MP is criticizing the Federal Government for asserting energy prices are going down, when whole sale power prices have apparently risen by more than 20 percent since the appointment of Energy Minister Angus Taylor in August 2018.

"At a time when electricity disconnections are already at record highs, and we've got incomes stagnating or indeed going backwards in some cases, another spike in electricity costs will just be the straw that breaks the camels back," she said.

Sharon Claydon says more focus on renewable energies would help combat these price hikes.

"We're in this crazy situation where we've got an incredible wealth of renewable resources in Australia, we could be riding a wave of renewable energy investment and forcing those power prices down," she said.

"But instead investment in renewable energy plummeted by more than 60 percent in the last year."

TOTAL FIRE BAN in place for the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Fire crews will be on high alert in the Hunter today with a TOTAL FIRE BAN in place for the region.

The mercury will soar to 43 degrees in Wallsend, and it'll even be 40 degrees in Newcastle throughout much of the day.

The fire conditions are rated as being Severe due to the hot and dry conditions - the advice from the Rural Fire Service today is to follow your bush survival plan if you need to and remain vigilant.

Ausgrid has cancelled some planned maintenance works across the region.

Works planned for Hexham, Singleton, Pokolbin and Woodville won't be going ahead today. Maintenance planned for Muscle Creek, Aberdeen, Sandy hollow, Keinbah, Myuna Bay and Wakefield will continue, but be shorter than planned so power can be restored by midday.

AUSGRID Cancels Scheduled Maintenance for Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The very high temperatures around the Hunter today have prompted Ausgrid to cancel planned maintenance works which would have cut power to homes for the day.

The power company has cancelled works which were scheduled for Raymond Terrace, Heddon Greta, Mccullys Gap, Yango Creek and Lambs Valley.

"All of those jobs would've involved interrupting power to customers and some of those would've been extended interruptions and in the very hot conditions we don't want to leave customers unnecessarily without power for long periods," said Jonathon Hall from Ausgrid.

There are some locations where customers have asked for works to still go ahead, as they've been in the planning for weeks or even months.

Ausgrid said they've made sure to contact the most at-risk customers.

"We have been contacting life support and vulnerable customers in areas where we do have planned works just to let them know what's happening and if the works are going ahead. We'll continue to do that today talking to them just to ensure they have all of the information they need in the heat," said Jonathon.

Ausgrid has released some simple tips for everyone to follow ahead of the soaring temperatures today:

• Use natural breezes to stay cool by opening doors and windows on opposite sides of your home.
• Using air conditioners less could save a family of four up to 10% on their electricity bill.
• Use a fan for cooling. A ceiling fan costs about two cents an hour to run, or about $6 over summer. Air conditioning the same space can cost between 30 and 40 cents an hour and add $100-150 to your bill.
• Set your air conditioner between 23 to 26 degrees. Each extra degree of cooling can add up  to 10% to your running costs.
• If you are using air conditioning remember to close doors and windows to keep the cool air in.

Vales Point Power Station Not so Worthless Anymore

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Vales Point Power Station on the edge of Lake Macquarie was meant to shut its doors in 2021, but now it's been revealed it won't shut until 2029 and its worth $729 million more than it was bought for.

The coal-fired power station has certainly made plenty of money since it was bought in November 2015 for just $1 million by Sunset Power who are operating the station under the old Delta Electricity name.

At the time of the sale, the ABC reports the Berejiklian government played down the sale of the power station because they believed it was worthless.

Now the massive jump in price has been referred to the Auditor-General.

The power station is quite large, responsible for 11 per cent of the state's electricity, but it's also one of the biggest pollutants in the country emitting 10 million tonnes of pollution each year.

Greens Energy Spokesperson Adam Bandt believes it needs to be shut down, but the flip flopping of energy policy in government is making that impossible.

Vales Point Power Station Image Wikipedia

"There is so much chaos in the electricity market and the electricity system under this government. People are clinging to these old assets no matter how polluting and how near the end of their life they are."

With no firm renewable energy policy from the government, Adam Bandt said everyone is clinging onto their old assets which are increasing in value, making companies more money, but the consumer's power bills more expensive.

"Now these coal-fired power stations are being rewarded for running their plant into the ground and staying open even longer and that's in large part because the government has made the whole of this area so uncertain that we haven't had the new investments in renewables that we need,"

"The choice is Malcolm Turnbull's. Are you going to start now putting your foot on the accelerator and built more renewables so we can close this coal-fired power station? Or are you actively going to make people dip into their pockets and subsidise it so that these coal barons can sit on an asset worth $730 million dollars that they paid $1 million for?" said Adam Bandt.

He also adds the power station is only going to get older and start to struggle to operate, particularly in the heat.

Future for Liddell Power Plant

By MATT JOHNSTON

After weeks of heated negotiations that went all the way to the Prime Minister’s office, AGL has finally announced its plans for the Liddell power plant’s future. They’re sticking to their commitment to close the existing facility, which is slated for closure in 2022.

While it is “technically possible” to extend the life of the 45-year-old power plant, AGL Chairman Jerry Maycock argues “the costs of doing so in a way that ensures that the plant is even moderately reliable are certain to be substantial”.

The Shadow Minister for Energy Adam Searle says Labor supports the proposal to install a raft of new energy technologies at the site to make up the energy and jobs shortfalls. It’s hoped the mix of energy production options will ensure the region’s energy security going forward. “Energy security for NSW will depend on having a diversity of energy sources, not putting reliance on ageing infrastructure.”

While the replacements for the coal-fired plant aren’t yet set in stone, it’s expected renewables, batteries, gas, and upgraded coal will all play a part in keeping homes and businesses powered. “This announcement will give security to existing employees and offer them high-quality jobs for decades to come”, says Adam Searle.

“It gives certainty to staff that work at the Liddell power station, it holds out the prospect for new employment for more people when it comes to the creation of the new generating capacity, but also it provides for energy security.”

AGL's Liddell Power Plant - Photo: The Newcastle Herald

Shocking $1.2 Million Power Bill

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Tomago steel processing plant Milltech is being hit hard by rising power prices. An increase of 160% in electricity costs will see their energy bill rise an extra $1.2 million over the next three years.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said that it's not just homes, but businesses feeling the pinch of increased electricity bills.

Since most Hunter industries heavily rely on electricity, Washington says the costs are mounting.
"It was really stark to see and understand the high energy use of our manufacturers and the impact of increased prices like this."

"This is hitting businesses really hard, and particularly our heavy manufacturing industries here in the Hunter are really going to feel the brunt of this."

The cost of energy isn't the only thing putting pressure on local businesses. International competition with lower production costs means local businesses often have to absorb price hikes rather than pass them on to the consumer.

 "They can’t put their prices up and keep absorbing increased energy costs, increased input costs, and their competitors are largely from overseas. Their business model is at risk.”

"My biggest fear is the flow-on impact of this on jobs for the Hunter. We can’t afford to go backwards in terms of our employment figures.”

Image http://milltechmartinbright.com/

Rising electricity prices spark shock in Hunter business owners

BY BROOKE HEINZ

A Newcastle-based energy analyst has warned Hunter businesses of rising electricity costs, saying the situation has gotten "out of control".

Bruce Hodgkinson, owner of electricity-consumption consultancy The Power Bill Doctor, claims some electricity retailers have increased prices up to 40 or 50 percent depending on business type and tariffs.

"With small businesses, there are many different tariffs that they can be on...the increases are not even across the board and most of the increases are actually penalising off-peak power," Hodgkinson said.

While Hodgkinson suggested federal or state government intervention may lead to a decrease in prices, he said the only option left for small Hunter businesses now is to cut down on electricity as prices will "go through the roof".

 "The last resort now is that small business really needs to understand how they use their electricity, where they are wasting electricity, stop the waste, and actually reduce their consumption," Hodgkinson said.

Source: Wikicommons

Help out your fellow man in the Vinnies Winter Appeal

BY LAUREN KEMP and JESSICA ROUSE

The St Vincent De Paul Society urging the Hunter community to help out their fellow man with donations for their Winter Appeal to help residents struggling with the cost of living in the coming colder months.

The average electricity debt has risen by more than  $100 between 2014 and 2015, and the wholesale price is expected to increase by as much as 20 per cent from  July.

Last year, Vinnies Winter Appeal distributed more than $4 million worth of assistance to disadvantaged families.

St Vincent De Paul Executive Officer for Maitland and Newcastle Denise Lucas says the community relies on donations especially when disadvantaged families have to make the difficult choice to stay warm.

"Unfortunately most families on a fixed income struggle with electricity bills when they come on a quarterly basis," and particularly when they use more electricity in winter.

"If we receive donations of clothes or furniture obviously they go into our Vinnies shop and the funds which are generated there go directly towards supporting people in our local community. People in the community can support our Winter Appeal with a donation which certainly goes towards helping people in our community with those extra costs during the winter months," said Denise Lucas.

For more information visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 13 18 12

Electricity prices going up, up, up

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery is calling on the state government to step in and make sure Novocastrians don't pay through the roof to keep warm this Winter.

An increase in wholesale electricity price of 50 per cent is said to be to blame for Hunter residents reportedly going to be paying up to $400 a year more for power from July

Last year, electricity and gas prices rose after the daily supply charges increased by up to 19.5%, and there are concerns this next pay increase will be too much for consumers to handle.

Sonia Hornery is particularly concerned about consumers in her electorate where there are a number of low income earners and pensioners.

"The increase is going to be an issue all across NSW, but in particular Wallsend because we have many low income earners in the area and many pensioners and people who are on the pension are on an absolutely limited income and are watching every dollar and cent that they spend."

The cuts to pensions and benefits are already making life a struggle, and this latest price rise could mean people affected will have to make the choice about keeping warm or not this winter.

"Some people will not be able to afford to turn on their heater this winter as a result of this increase - it is too much for some to cope with," said Sonia Hornery.