Return to public ownership of national electricity grid would reduce costs, says economist Will Ockenden, www.abc.net.au, Friday 3 March, 2017 A publicly owned electricity grid is the only way to put a cap on costs, keep energy competitive and solve the country’s energy crisis, according to an economics expert. Professor John Quiggin says the creation…
Software glitch to blame for blackout of extra 60,000 SA homes in heatwave Gareth Hutchens, The Advertiser, 21 February 2017 The South Australian network operator says a software problem led to load shedding of 300MW instead of the 100MW requested by national market. SA Power Networks has said it knew a software glitch caused an…
Renewable energy: Expert Danny Price says nation is heading for a ‘third-world power system’ Uma Patel, Sabra Lane and Tom Joyner, ABC.net.au, 16 February, 2017 The nation’s electricity grid is heading “towards a third-world power system”, according to a respected expert in energy economics who helped design Australia’s national energy market rules. Danny Price, the…
Update on ABCC and SA Power Networks EA negotiations
South Australia power sector facing ABCC crossfire Ewin Hannan, The Australian, February 14, 2017 Unions have warned South Australia’s volatile power sector faces industrial upheaval as the state’s electricity distribution network seeks to impose the Turnbull government’s contentious construction code on hundreds of workers. SA Power Networks has angered unions by seeking to negotiate separate…
This toxic energy row must end Jay Weatherill, Financial Review, Feb 13 2017 Electricity supply is a public good and Labor believes it should be in public hands. That is why we opposed the privatisation of the Electricity Trust of South Australia, our state’s electricity supply utility.As a result of that policy decision,…
SA Power Networks could be hit by industrial action after workers were warned they could lose out under rules designed for construction sites Peter Jean, Political reporter, The Advertiser, February 13 THE state’s fragile electricity sector could be hit by industrial action unless SA Power Networks is exempted from rules introduced to prevent union…
How Christmas prawns explain Australia’s power blackouts Richard Denniss http://www.smh.com.au/comment/how-christmas-prawns-explain-australias-power-blackouts-20170210-gua9eh.html Just as the Howard government once claimed incorrectly that refugees were throwing their children into the water, the Turnbull government is deliberately misleading the public about the cause of blackouts and energy shortages around the country. Blaming renewable energy for causing the storms and heatwaves…
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and ministers were told wind not to blame for South Australia blackout EXCLUSIVE – Mark Kenny, February 13 2017 – 10:46AM Turnbull government statements blaming last year’s South Australian blackout on its high renewable energy target ignored confidential public service advice stating that it was not the cause, according to emails obtained under freedom-of-information rules. With…
Bob Donnelly was awarded the Unions highest honour at the CEPU SA Branch Biennial Conference held in October. Bob was made a life member of the CEPU for his outstanding contribution to our Union. Bob joined the ETU in 1968 and has represented members as a shop steward, state Councillor, Executive member, Organiser, Branch Assistant…