The pandemic recession has reduced US energy demand, roiling budgets in states that are major fossil fuel producers. But politics and culture can impede efforts to look beyond oil, gas and coal.
Tim Nelson, Griffith University and Alan Rai, University of Technology Sydney
After a decade of rising electricity bills, prices are projected to fall thanks to new renewable generation.
Gas burning at Victoria’s Longford Gas Conditioning Plant. Australia is the world’s largest exporter but intends t import gas to shore up local supplies.
Joe Castro/AAP
If Australia is the biggest gas exporter in the world, why are we shipping it back in? Because the gas market is dysfunctional - and it means consumers are suffering.
Three decades of behavioural experiments show consumers given too many choices are more likely to make a bad or no choice.
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Energy companies and other retailers bamboozle us with options to increase their profits. Here's how the behavioural phenomenon of choice overload works.
Renewables can cut prices as well as emissions.
David Chang/EPA
The federal government is primarily to blame for the mess that is Australia's energy policy. It's time for the states to step up, to reduce both prices and emissions.
Melissa Price, the new Minister for the Environment, has a tough road ahead.
JAMES ROSS/AAP
Australians are angry about electricity prices and both the federal government and opposition are proposing to cap them. Will this approach work, and what are the risks?
The takeup of rooftop solar was much more rapid and widespread than many policymakers predicted.
AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
Australia's consumer watchdog has concluded that rooftop solar incentives have distorted the market unfairly for those who cannot afford solar panels, and has recommended the scheme ends ten years early.
Australia’s energy prices have doubled since 2015.
Photo by José Alejandro Cuffia/ Unsplash
On Q&A, Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said South Australia's high electricity prices were "the consequence" of Jay Weatherill's renewable energy policies. Is that right?
Politician’s energy priorities do not necessarily align with those of ordinary Australians.
DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP
A new report has found that Tasmanians, Queenslanders and New South Welshmen are paying $100-$400 a year for unnecessary infrastructure.
The outcome of the three-horse race between Jay Weatherill’s Labor, Nick Xenophon’s SA-Best and Steven Marshall’s Liberals is uncertain.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
Much is in play for South Australia in this weekend's state election – politically and economically.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, SA Liberal leader Steven Marshall and SA Best leader Nick Xenophon at a leaders’ debate hosted by the ABC.
AAP Image/Morgan Sette
SA Liberal Party leader Steven Marshall said that state Labor policy had left South Australians with 'the highest energy prices in Australia' and 'the least reliable grid'. Is that right?
At the end of 2017, Australia is starting to (slowly) address our energy problems. But it's also clear the federal government has abdicated leadership and responsibility.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry says the US needs to subsidize nuclear and coal power plants to keep the grid stable. But this policy would raise energy costs and could drive consumers off-grid instead.
With a hot summer forecast, keeping cool will put a strain on financially vulnerable households.
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