Insight: Aug 2

This week Insight looks at the rise in electricity prices – what’s behind it, and is there anything we can do about it?

It sounds like the subject of our 6:30 shows, but Jennie Brockie examines higher demand, inefficiency and ageing infrastructure and the upcoming carbon tax .

What we can do – both individually and nationally – to save energy and lower costs?

Guests include:

Andrew Reeves, the Australian Energy Regulator. He’s recently announced a review of the rules because he says problems in the system are leading to unnecessary price increases.

George Maltabarow, the Managing Director of Ausgrid – one of the largest electricity networks in Australia. He says one of the main reasons that prices are rising is because consumers are pursuing energy intensive lifestyles. This means networks have to spend large amounts on infrastructure to meet rising demand.

Muriel Watt, Chair of the Australian Photovoltaic Association. She says simple changes to energy regulation, such as the right to a fair price for power which is supplied back to the grid, would make it economic for most households to install solar panels and bring down their bills.

Barry Brook, an environmental scientist based at the University of Adelaide. He says renewable energy will be too expensive and that nuclear energy is the cleanest, cheapest way of meeting Australia’s energy needs whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Matthew Wright, Executive Director of Beyond Zero Emissions, an energy think tank which proposes that Australia convert to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020, and focuses on concentrated solar thermal plants with storage.

Phyllis Batumbil, a traditional owner from Arhhem Land. Mata Mata is one of 120 remote indigenous communities where diesel generators have been replaced with solar panels. Phyllis tells how the Bushlight solar system has incorporated energy efficiency and demand management into their lives, saving money and providing a more reliable power supply.

Chris Dunstan, a research director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney. Chris says the best way to stop energy price hikes is to invest in energy efficiency and manage demand.

Insight airs on SBS ONE Tuesday at 7.30pm.