Victoria Bill to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Gas Industry Act 2001, the Gas Pipelines Access (Victoria) Act 1998, the Gas and Fuel Corporation (Heatane Gas) Act 1993

The Bill would amend the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Gas Industry Act 2001, the Gas Pipelines Access (Victoria) Act 1998, the Gas and Fuel Corporation (Heatane Gas) Act 1993 and would meet some other purposes. “The main thrust of it, however, is to make amendments as a consequence of the review of the Victorian Energy Networks Corporation, more commonly known as VENCorp,” Batchelor said. “A review was undertaken of that and this is implementing some of the responses. Secondly, the bill will extend the sunset of the energy customer safety net provisions by another 12 months, and a number of other matters.” Reference: Parliament of Victoria, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), Legislative Assembly, Fifty-Sixth parliament, First session, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 – Energy Legislation Further Amendment Bill Introduction and first reading

Erisk Net, 15/10/2007

Burma, August 15: military increased price of fuel 500pc; CNG up 500pc, diesel doubled, petrol up 67pc

Soaring fuel prices trigger for Burmese protests: unfair quota system in place A surgeon in a public hospital in Burma earned $US15($17) a month and ran private clinics after hours to make ends meet, wrote Connie Levett in The Sydney Morning Herald (9/10/2007, p. 9).  Burma Heads of government departments earned $US14 a month until late 2005, when the Government increased salaries tenfold to stem dissent about the move to a new capital, Naypyidaw, in central Burma.

How new NSW gas-fired peakers changed price spikes in 2001 and 200

How new NSW gas-fired peakers changed price spikes in 2001 and 2002 A chart showing standard deviation in the electricity pool price per quarter contained in a report “Securing Private Investment in New Generation in New South Wales” prepared by Morgan Stanley for the Owen Inquiry also demonstrated the commissioning of gas-fired peakers during 2001 and 2002.

Reference: Morgan Stanley, Report to the Owen Inquiry: Securing Private Investment in New Generation in New South Wales, 31 August, 2007.

Western Power received 721 written queries, concerns or complaints from customers in the metropolitan area in the 12 months to 30 May 2007

Western Power received 721 written queries, concerns or complaints from customers in the metropolitan area in the 12 months to 30 May 2007, said Western Australian Energy Minister Fran logan on 14 August 2007.

Energy Minister offers Queensland blackout free summers: Energex big brother plan to control robot aircon; and gen contracts ready for demand-spikes

Energy Minister Geoff Wilson claims Queensland will survive the summer without a drought-inspired blackout or load shedding. Wilson said a taskforce and a separate independent review had found electricity supply would be secure this summer. “The advice from the taskforce is there will be secure supplies for this summer,’ reported The Courier Mail, 21/9/2007, p. 11.

ActewAGL – now buys renewables at 7c a kilowatt hour – to fight a plan to make it under the proposed ACT law, to pay homes, 52c a kilowatt hour

ActewAGL’s general manager of retail, Ivan Slavich, said the 52c a kilowatt hour tariff was not a wise use of money.

Beginning of the ‘museum’ scenario for Snowy Scheme if privitisation avoided; internal note on the impact on Snowy Hydro of privatisation plan

According to Matthew Stevens, if Snowy Hydro was forced to sit out the retail resolution, it will lose key customers for its power, reported The Australian (19/9/2007, p.34).

All I want for Xmas: TRUenergy wants NSW market access retail load

Sam Bristow, Director, Business Development, TRUenergy Australia argued that the single biggest policy change required (in NSW) was to allow private investors to mass market access retail load. “Merchant and PPA options (leave) Government (with) market risk, with consequent pressure on its credit rating”.

South Australia’s lack of mandatory renewable energy targets; state “free-riding” on mandates in neighbouring jurisidictions

The 280-member Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) had poured scorn on Premier Mike Rann, accusing him of claiming credit for renewable energy investment in SA, despite other states and the Federal Government being responsible.