The N.E.M, national energy market, has it would seem, become an entity in its own right and able to demand compliance from rogue states deciding that they no longer want to belong with an entity, concerned solely with the profit margins, shareholders returns, CEO's salaries And board members fee structures?

In a profit first paradigm that has virtually tripled energy prices domestically by linking them to an illusionary international energy market?

And we seem to be governed by idiots living in a bubble unable to stand up for us!

We need to open up our gas fields, say the gas export industry? So they can extract a one time resource. And when it gone its gone!

Moreover Australian companies who've offshored their operations to avoid tax liabilities and or paying fair wages, are not actually Australian, any more than Hardie ferodo is! Just more hasbeens trying to trade on an iconic brand?

Energy? The simple fact is, most Australian household produce enough biological waste, to, when digested in an Aussie invented smell free two tank system, produce enough biogas (methane) to power their premises 24/7 and produce endless free hot water into the bargain! Adding in food scraps/wastage produces a salable surplus!

So we're not short of gas, just the leaders we need to get us off this foreign controlled, from you to them, money go round!
Alan B. T.B.C.

National regulator. National market. What on earth is he talking about? 'National' is something that Australia just does not do very well. On this site, we have people constantly sneering at South Australia; their states are so much better; they hope that anything that happens in SA won't 'cost them anything'.

There is no national spirit in Australia. All we have is burgeoning centralisation that doesn't take local conditions and needs into account. I'll tell you what: you lot in other states, particularly those on the east coast, can take a running jump at yourselves.

Nobody could be a greater critic of the the SA Labor government than I; but, irrespective of their suspect motive for trying to do something about our dire electricity situation, they are now trying to do something to fix their own stupidity over windmills and the stupidity of a Liberal premier, John Olsen, who sold off the generators to foreigners in the first place. If you clowns took any real notice of SA, instead of just disparaging it, you would know that, bad and all that the Labor government is, there is no alternative in the ineffectual, tired old opposition. The Liberal leader, Steve Marshall, supposed have been a 'businessman' (nobody seems to know what the business actually was) runs around looking as though he has just pooped himself, and the names of his team hardly anyone knows.

Our only hope is for Weatherill to fix his stupid mistakes of the past and get on with it. This scheme, no matter what the 'experts' and sneerers think of it, is our only chance. We do not need the advice of someone 'completing a doctorate'.

As already stated, most Australian households produce enough waste when digested, to power their premises 24/7!

Further, simple scrubbing allows this bladder stored gas (methane) to be consumed in ceramic fuel cells. This combination produces endless free hot water, plus an 80% energy coefficient; four times better than coal fired reticulated energy. Moreover, the exhaust product is mostly water vapor.

An 80% energy coefficient, means on average, around 50% of that household production (surplus) can be sold to other users.

Retrofitting homes could start a brand new industry that could put many/most former car manufacturing workers back to work in their own businesses.

So, we not only have all the gas we could ever need, all that has ever been missing is a logical rollout plan!

On another topic. The national grid has proved to be a great white elephant that has only served to allow unscrupulous foreigners to not only grab us by the economic short and curlies, but threaten this nation's best interest economic viability/economic sovereignty! They are not charitable institutions and not here for us!

I have made an irrefutable EROI economic case for thorium, but the decision makers are plainly interested in the status quo, have tin ears, live inside a bubble, just don't give a rats? Or are preoccupied to the point of indifference, with other more important, to them, issues?

Like say, life after politics as an advisor or (Benedict Arnold) consultant, with say, a foreign based energy company or some such? What other possible or even vaguely plausible explanation can there be?
Alan B.

The problem is that we (not just government, but the populace in general) fell for the proposition that we could pay homage to the great global warming monster (manbearpig) without significant cost.

RET - what could go wrong?
Shut the gate...no one was going to take to the battlements to oppose that Luddite notion.

Governments caved into the the squeaky wheel. None were punished for it and there was enough who praised the surrender to make it a national pastime.

Now the chickens are coming home to roost as was always inevitable. As the fit hits the shan, there'll be an unseemly rush to blame others and patch things long enough to get to the next election.

Meanwhile, the US is going to pullout of the Paris accord, essentially gutting it. Merkel is talking about retreating from Germany's climate fanaticism, and the great green monster is in its death throes.

At some point, we'll see a state government (or opposition) desperate enough that they'll abandon all the pretenses and get back to providing reliable power at an affordable price. Once one goes, the economic pressure on the others will be irresistable.

It'd be ironic if that catalyst were South Australia.

A step in the right direction:

It is stupid to waste that much power by sending it across such long wires rather than store it locally, but not just electrical power - also political power and orders. It is shameful and immoral to place a whole continent under one regime.

Down with nationalism: anything that starts with an 'N' should be dismantled, there are far too many of those, including NBN, NDIS and now also NEM. Batteries are great - it's one more item on the check-list that will allow independence for the states of this continent.

Funny...I always thought the 'N'-word had a different meaning.