Alex Fattal, University of Technology Sydney and Nicky Ison, University of Technology Sydney
The electricity market that covers most of Australia is designed to have periods of high prices, to attract new generators. But there may be better ways to encourage electricity investment.
Malcolm Turnbull faces many challenges in transitioning Australia to a post-mining boom economy.
Lukas Coch/AAP
What are the key policy challenges facing the new Turnbull government in terms of economic growth and budgets, cities, transport, energy, school education, higher education and health?
Labor has promised half of Australia’s electricity will come from renewables in 2030.
Wind turbine image from www.shutterstock.com
There's a wealth of climate policies to choose from this election – but what will they do electricity prices?
An LNG tanker leaves Gladstone, Queensland. Gas development is one of the drivers behind Australia’s increasing emissions and electricity demand.
AAP/Dan Peled
When will residential solar be cheaper than the cost of power from the grid? This point of 'grid parity' is a moving target but moving closer in a number of places.
Before jumping into the home battery market, make sure you do your research.
Patrick Fallon/Reuters
The 'early adopters' of home battery storage will pay significantly more than those who come later, but it won't be long until prices drop enough for many more to get on board.
By 2030 large-scale solar cost about the same as fossils fuels.
Solar image from www.shutterstock.com
By 2030 renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will cost a similar amount to fossils fuels such as coal and gas, thanks to falling technology costs
Is the price right for installing solar panels?
Edmund Tse/Flickr
In June this year, forecasts revealed residential and business demand has risen for the first time in five years. The trend could be here to stay, according to a report released today from the Australia Institute.
South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago is the third since the bank adopted a more transparent way of operating.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
The South African Reserve Bank is a fine example of clear communication of the decision whether to hold, increase, or decrease interest rates. It also gives clear signals of future decisions.
Rooftop solar panels are disrupting Australia’s electricity market, and competing with networks.
Jason Wong/Flickr
The federal government's keenly awaited Energy White Paper is firmly focused on cutting prices and red tape, and boosting industry competitiveness - and less so on climate change and renewable energy.
Electricity privatisation has delivered big nest eggs for various state governments – but the NSW government’s $A13 billion privatisation price tag risks being undermined by an election pledge and the recent UBS controversy.
Dmitry Melnikov from www.shutterstock.com
Electricity privatisations have been like golden geese, providing A$37 billion to Australian state governments since 1992. But the price for NSW's privatisation risks being undercut by two key events.
There are many misleading claims about what happens after electricity privatisation – including the impact on prices and on jobs.
Paul Miller/AAP
Both sides of the electricity privatisation debate are guilty of cherry-picking so-called "facts" to suit their campaigns, rather than presenting the real story to voters.
Rising gas prices, driven by the development of Queensland’s exports, could end up driving domestic customers away.
AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Gas developers have been ominously warning of impending gas shortages in New South Wales, with official forecasts from planning authorities pointing to steady or rising demand. Yet our analysis suggests…
Peak power use is also a busy time for young families.
Nico Cavallotto/Flickr
A key plank of the Australian Government’s draft energy policy is to reform electricity pricing so that it more accurately reflects rises and falls in peak demand. New tariffs, such as time-of-use (TOU…
Motorists in the United States and elsewhere have been treated to low prices. Whether they will bounce back is another question.
EPA/CJ Gunther/AAP
Late in 2014, we saw iron ore and coal prices fall. Now we are seeing oil prices tumble, dipping to less than US$50 a barrel, half the price of a year ago. In all cases, these price collapses reflect the…
Falling demand and prices are leaving no incentive to invest in Australia’s electricity sector.
Indigo Skies Photography /Flickr
There’s been much talk about how uncertainty over the future of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) is affecting the renewable energy industry. Investment in renewable energy is at its lowest level since…
Should you be paying for big energy users?
Bill image from www.shutterstock.com
The federal government has now achieved passage of its Direct Action plan through the Senate. Some wheeling and dealing with the cross-benches was required of course – but while the government may oppose…
Energy prices are rising, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the profits of the handful of large energy supply companies are rising too. While it can be argued that there is no direct causal relationship…
Third time lucky: after a deal between Clive Palmer (right) and his Senate PUPs with the government, the carbon tax has finally been repealed.
Alan Porritt/AAP
