Power Rationing !

An insidious idea has been suggested to avoid the need to implement an upgrade of the Snowy River hydro scheme that has a price tag running into billions of dollars.   The power companies want consumers to give their permission for their power utility to take control of their air conditioner and swimming pool pump at times of high demand.

This spiel is unconvincing.  It is suggested that if power to these services is turned down just a little bit that would reduce the load across the network or in a particular part of the network.   It seems to suggest that air conditioners and pool pumps will continue to give service, but just a little more slowly when the voltage they receive drops below the normal level.

It will be interesting to hear what the makers of these electrical items have to say on the matter.  The modern electric motor that powers these services is constructed to specific tolerances and the design is suited to the specification of power levels delivered by the Australian electrical system.  Once someone starts monkeying with the voltage suppled all sorts of unexpected consequences are likely to appear - and then there is the implication for warranties.

This suggestion sounds like the thin edge of a very unpleasant wedge.  Power demand in Australia is constantly rising as new innovations are bought by the public and the power companies claim they need to renew poles and wires to deliver this added voltage to consumers.  At the same time, the generators of that power are slipping below demand because we are retiring old coal fired power stations and facing political gridlock in approving their replacement.

The power level in Australia was set at 240 volts a very long time ago and that is the standard to which electrical appliances are constructed.   If we start delivering less than 240 volts to selected items such as air conditioners and pool pumps, how long before the general supply falls below that level as a means of evening out demand at high peak ?

We have spent billions installing the NBN to give a first world service in the computer age.  That will not be helped if at the same time we are reverting to a third world electrical supply.  To add insult to injury, it is being suggested that consumers be rewarded for accepting sub standard voltage by a lowering of the bills they will have to pay.

To many minds, this sounds like ever slipping standards.  It all started when the state governments passed the electricity supply into commercial hands in exchange for the money they needed to fix the roads and transport systems, and this coincided with global warming throwing the onus on reduction in coal use to save the planet.  From there it all went downhill.

The cost of electricity to consumers has more than doubled and now it seems we are not generating enough of the stuff to meet demand.  The creation of new generators is bogged down in a political fight between the solar and wind lobby and those advocating the judicious use of coal and natural gas to supply demand peaks.   As a result, no new generators are under construction and we are heading into a power crisis.

Time the people of this state demanded this situation be sorted - and that the 240 volt standard be maintained.  Lowering the voltage is not the answer !