Filter News:
Carbon Tax on Hold
australia: August 09, 2010This past June, Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister. With no delay she called for an election that is going to be held on the 21st of August. The political uncertainties of general elections cause markets to react differently, in particular the energy and resources sector, as the Gillard government policies are different from the opposition Liberal policies. Continue Reading
Upward & Onward
australia: January 11, 2010Australia households may have to pay up to an extra $1,000 for their electricity. The NSW regulator recently issued a draft ruling enabling the state’s three largest electricity retailers to raise their charges. These retailers include Energy Australia, Integral Energy and Country Energy. Continue Reading
Sell Off
australia: October 16, 2009In 2008 the New South Wales Government, led by former premier Morris Iemma of the Labour Party, attempted to swiftly privatize the NSW electricity industry. Continue Reading
Network Yikes!
australia: July 17, 2009Electricity network charges will increase from between 20 to 40 percent in New South Wales and 15 to 20 percent in Queensland for the financial year 2009/10. These are very substantial increases that will have a big impact on larger businesses during these recessionary times. Continue Reading
A Calmer Land
australia: June 18, 2009The Australian electricity market continues to be unaffected by the pricing volatility as seen in many other countries; particularly those markets whose electricity prices are closely linked to the price of oil. Continue Reading
Carbon Trading Blues
australia: May 20, 2009 The delay in the federal government’s proposed emissions trading scheme had an immediate, yet virtually unreported, effect on the country’s financial markets. Within minutes of the announcement earlier this... Continue Reading
ETS
australia: April 15, 2009 The Emissions Trading Scheme or ETS has been set by the Australian Government with commencement in July 2010. This action, of course, raises the question whether the ETS will increase electricity pricing and... Continue Reading
Having a Heat Wave
australia: February 17, 2009 Recent headlines have loudly heralded the fact that the state of Victoria recently experienced its hottest week since 1875. On January 29th 140,000 homes had no power due to the heat wave with 18,000 still... Continue Reading
Retail Sale
australia: December 16, 2008 The State Government hopes to finalize the sale of its electricity assets by the end of 2009. The Government was forced to scrap plans to sell the electricity generators this year. Under the amended plan, they... Continue Reading
Anti-Privatization
australia: October 22, 2008 In early September during the NSW Labour Party Conference held in Sydney, delegates overwhelmingly rejected a State Government proposal to privatize the State’s electricity sector. Premier Morris Iemma, who... Continue Reading
Time For Change?
australia: October 22, 2008 In Alberta’s deregulated energy market, consumers with annual electricity usage of less than 250,000 kWh have two options for purchasing their electricity supply. The first option allows them to be billed... Continue Reading
Gas Crisis
australia: August 14, 2008 The Western Australian Chamber of Commerce recently announced that the explosion at the Varanus Island gas processing facility in June has cost the national economy an estimated $2.4 billion as a result of... Continue Reading
New Legislation
australia: July 16, 2008 The last twelve months have seen dramatic increases in both average pool and contract market prices across the Australian electricity market. The main reason cited is the on-going drought as it relates to... Continue Reading
Privatization
australia: May 15, 2008 New South Wales’ Premier Morris Iemma and Treasurer Michael Costa continue to push ahead on plans to privatize the NSW energy sector although such a move is being widely resisted especially by unions and... Continue Reading
MRET = $
australia: April 21, 2008 There is growing concern by industrial and heavy users of electricity that the Government’s Mandatory Renewable Target or MRET will cause significant price increases. Many fear that potential price increases... Continue Reading
A Free Market
australia: March 25, 2008 The Victorian Government is expected to set a free-market benchmark for the national energy markets by abandoning price caps on electricity and natural gas sales. The move comes after extensive monitoring found... Continue Reading
Uncertain Times
australia: February 14, 2008 Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) has undergone unprecedented change over the past 12 months due mainly to drought related supply issues and increased input costs. Large market forward pricing... Continue Reading
Full Effect
australia: January 22, 2008 Residential electricity users in the Australian state of Victoria are facing an average price increase of 17 percent as of 1 January 2008. The price hike is primarily due to the retail electricity market moving... Continue Reading