Category Archives: Energy

7.30 Qld interview on asset sales

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Last week, Maria Hatzakis interviewed me for the Queensland edition of the 7.30 Report, which aired on Friday night: Privatisation push as power prices surge again In understanding why the sale of electricity assets is desirable, the Productivity Commission’s Electricity … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Energy, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Solar subsidy creates suburban “eyesore” on Gold Coast

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In describing how government policies can have strange effects, economic textbooks often refer to the window tax that applied in Britain in France in the 18th and 19th centuries. This tax resulted in a number of households bricking up windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment, Gold Coast | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Productivity Commission says no rationale for State ownership of Energex and Ergon

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Paul Syvret in the Courier-Mail today has a nice summary of the Productivity Commission’s latest report on Electricity Network Regulation. The Commission suggests there would be cost savings and lower power bills flowing from privatisation of electricity network businesses such … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Top power regulator skeptical about “gold plating” allegation

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I attended an excellent function on electricity distribution pricing at Customs House, Brisbane last night which was organised by the UQ Energy Initiative. Panelists included John Pierce, Chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Tony Bellas, who recently chaired … Continue reading →

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To get cheaper electricity, charge a lot more during peak periods

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Gene Tunny

While the Newman Government’s review into electricity prices announced yesterday is welcome, I suspect any savings it will identify through reduced duplication will be minor compared with the savings that are possible through discouraging electricity use during peak times through … Continue reading →

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Should Governments promote the development of tropical cities such as Townsville?

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I am both proud and somewhat bewildered to read that Townsville, where I was born and spent my first fifteen years, is approaching a population of 200,000 people, as reported in the Townsville Bulletin this morning (Welcome to Townsville: population … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Energy, Townsville | 3 Comments

Domestic electricity price freeze will mean higher costs for businesses

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Newman Government has a clear mandate to implement its policies, but it will find implementation very difficult in a number of cases. The most obvious case is the promise that within its first 30 days the Government will: Freeze … Continue reading →

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Xstrata rejects CopperString renewable energy pipe dream

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The CopperString renewable energy corridor, from Townsville to Mt Isa, always appeared to be a pipe dream, with fantastic expectations about the reliability of renewable energy generators (wind farms and solar & geothermal power stations). The big problem with renewable … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, North Queensland, Townsville | 1 Comment

CSG projected to generate $20-30 billion p.a.

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

From the latest Queensland Gas Market Review, released yesterday: Based on these numbers, and a forecast gas price of $7-8/GJ, coal seam gas (CSG) producers would earn total revenues of $20-30 billion per annum by 2030. The Australian has coverage … Continue reading →

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Top economists against carbon tax

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Gene Tunny

University of Melbourne Economics Professor Stephen King questions whether the carbon tax is in the national interest and essentially concludes it is based on wishful thinking that our actions alone will influence the world to act: The objectives of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Energy | Leave a comment