My last electricity bill here in WA works out to 3$ a day, for
15 units or KW/H per day. So around 20c/kw/h. How much does
elecricty cost per unit in NSW?

I gather that in Germany they are paying well over 60c kw/h,
so I'm not complaining, but we can in fact expect power charges
to increase, as more of our energy in Australia switches to gas
wind etc, rather then coal fired generation.

Electric hot water systems chew alot of power, mine is solar,
which saves heaps, for much of the year.

Last year, after installing a new reverse cycle system, I started
using it on the heat cycle fairly often and boy did that make the
meter spin! So, a cosy wood fire is it for heating, most of the
time.

Solar drying of clothes, those clothes dryers chew heaps of power.

The other new toys that consume a fair bit are plasma screens.
I went for an LED screen, which they tell me are far more
efficient.

At 20c/kwh, I don't think we are being overcharged here in WA.

This is fascinating. At our business we have a facility whereby people can pay their power bills over the counter, and I have to say that very few indeed are above $500 a quarter. Yes, larger households tend to have the higher bills, but that doesn't explain the apparent difference with the figures that are being quoted here.

Our quarterly electricity bills are rarely more than $200 - but then again it's mostly just the two of us and we're both greenies. Mind you, we don't have airconditioning, clothes dryers, dishwashers and a flat screen TV in every bedroom, and I cut my own wood for heating.

It seems to me that the high energy costs that people are paying are a combination of price gouging in the wake of privatisation, and the increasingly profligate domestic consumption of electricity.

If you think it's bad now, wait until 'Peak Energy' really starts to bite. I recommend 'voluntary simplicity' as a long term strategy :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living

Thanks for the kind words, Foxy.

It is alarming that we all experience such cost differences in our bills for presumably
similar usage habits and services.

It's because consumers are fair game" under the current Trade Practices Act.
Pricing no longer needs justification or explanation, and wages have stalled due
to the remnants of "workchoices".

People living with an existing individual contracts can look forward to
no rises or adjustment's for inflation in their pay in the near future either.

But prices for essential services will continue to rise beyond inflation.

SOG, if the state Gov't is price gouging in Qld, no wonder their unpopular
but this is also because of unhealthy trade practices laws. Legally they can gouge away.

The notion that market forces is the be all to end all, is a myth.
Because in reality,"excessive corporate power leads to exploitation every time".

So be exploited electricity users this is the way we think in todays Australia.

Sorry SOG I mean't Hasbeen

C J Morgan, "Our quarterly electricity bills are rarely more than $200 - but then again it's mostly just the two of us and we're both greenies. Mind you, we don't have airconditioning, clothes dryers, dishwashers and a flat screen TV in every bedroom, and I cut my own wood for heating."

It is hypocritical to preen yourself as a 'greenie' for your lower power bills, while you make up for the lost BTUs by burning wood for heating, creating a smoke pall in the process. When the Greens' ETS tax bites through high electricity charges for the pensioners and low income earners it will be a case of "I'm alright Jack, just throw some more logs on the fire", huh?

More Greens' pragmatism no doubt, but then the environment and sustainability is their short suit, not anywhere as important as their idealistic and conflicting social policies.

Hi Cornflower. I'll ignore the snark and just correct your misinformation. Modern combustion heaters are actually the most environmentally friendly heating option available, at least for those of us who live in non-urban areas. Since I collect the wood from long-dead trees on our own property, our heating is virtually carbon-neutral.

Yes, smoke is a problem that makes wood heaters unsuitable for urban areas, but where we live it's not a problem - particularly since the type of heater we have emits virtually no smoke once it's lit. Our house is also well insulated, which further reduces the amount of heating we require. Besides which, in terms of smoke pollution, have you been to the Latrobe or Lower Hunter valleys lately?

The fact is that energy costs are going to inevitably increase in the near future, and I don't see any sustainable alternative other than reducing demand. Even if Australia moved to nuclear electricity generation, it would be much more expensive than current prices. If you're really concerned about pensioners and others on low incomes, perhaps you could consider living in a smaller house with consequently lower energy needs.

Lastly, any ETS that is likely to be introduced in Australia will be an act of an ALP government, not the Greens. Of course the Greens will use whatever influence they have to try and ensure that such a measure would actually be effective, rather than just window-dressing as the woeful effort by the Rudd government was.

Have a lovely day.