An explanation of how we got to where we are. When large scale electricity generation first became commercially available, in Australia in the 1880’s – 1890’s. It was too expensive for the average individual to own a generator. People in a city or a town, set up cooperatives to build and operate the generators and transfer the electricity via power lines to individual homes and businesses. Later these co-operative’s were amalgamated under the control of State Governments. Victoria’s was known as the State Electricity Commission, which was established in 1921.
https://ewh.ieee.org › r10 › nsw › subpages › history › electricity_in_australia.pdf
While the State Government owned enterprises provided a reliable service, having no competition and being able to pay dividends to the Governments, the prices charged were higher what they could have been. But no where near as high as they are today.
In the early 1990’s the Victorian State Government ran up a very large debt. In the 1992 election, Jeff Kennet was elected Premier and as a way of paying off the State debt, he sold the assets of the SEC (the generators and distribution system) to private enterprise. This meant that the Generators and distribution systems had several owners.
To me the most serious consequence of the privatization of the SEC is that Victoria’s electricity generators and distribution system is now owned mostly by foreign companies, particularly Chinese. And I believe that main aim of these mostly foreign owners is, with the minimum of maintenance, to make the most profit possible, from their businesses with little regard to providing electricity consumers with a low cost reliable, base load electricity supply 24/7.
This raises the important question. Should it not be a security concern, for Australia and electricity consumers. For our electricity generators and Grid to be mostly foreign owned?
This raises the further question: Should the Federal and State Governments in the interest of supplying electricity consumers with a low cost reliable, base load electricity supply 24/7. And to make sure that the security of the electricity supply was assured. Should the Governments consider both the building of new electricity generators and making sure the current coal fired power stations are kept maintained and running at full capacity?
THIS CONFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PETITION THAT THE INTENTION TO CLOSE ALL AUSTRALIAN COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY.
This includes Eraring in 2025, Yallourn in (2032 now 2028), Bayswater in 2033, with Loyang A in 2045 and all other coal fired power stations.
And no consideration of them being closed be considered until assured supplies of base load electricity 24/7 is available from coal, gas or uranium powered generators. Even if this requires the coal fired generators be compulsory acquired by the relevant Government, in the National interest and to maintain the supply of base load electricity 24/7 that is essential to STOP the Grid from collapsing.
OUR PETITION TO KEEP OUR COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS RUNNING. Is educating everyone of how important coal fired power stations are to keeping the Grid from crashing.
https://www.change.org/p/blackouts-will-be-devastating-they-must-be-avoided-at-all-costs
YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PETITION WITH DONATIONS WILL BE REPAID WITH BASELOAD ELECTRICITY FOR THE NEXT CRITICAL FIFTEEN TO TWENTY YEARS. Be it $10, $20, $50 or $100 please make a donation and keep our petition in the public eye. AND KEEP THE BLACKOUTS AT BAY. The more signatures we get the more wins will keep coming and the coal fired power stations will be kept running. Promote the petition on Change.org and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp or Email.
KEEP INFORMED BY DAILY MONITORING THE AEMO DATA DASHBOARD. And alert your friends to watch the AEMO dashboard, the more know what's happening the better.
Particularly at 7pm and 7am (Or a time that suits you?) watch (and record) the mix of coal, gas hydro, batteries, solar and wind generation and the prices per MWh for each State on the AEMO dashboard.
Example: Eastern States 11th January 2025 8.05Pm AEDST. Batteries 1%, Biomass 0%, Black Coal 45% Brown Coal 14%, Gas 8%, Hydro 11% Diesel 0% Solar 1%, Wind 19%. 8.05pm a time when Solar is just starting its 16 hour sleep, producing just 1%. Wind is all over the place averaging 27%, but ranging from only 7% in Qld, up to 94% in SA.
To underline the importance of our coal fired generators 11/01/25 8.05pm AEDST. Coal is producing in NSW 77% Wind 16%, Qld coal 74%, wind 6% Vic Brown coal 53%, wind 22%. SA gas 26%, Wind 69% and Tas 83% hydro, wind 15%.
WITHOUT COAL AUSTRALIA WOULD BE BLACKED OUT
STOP PRESS: WHAT CAN HAPPEN. South Australia 4th June 2024 9.05pm EST. Batteries 0%, Gas 97%, Diesel 3% Solar 0%, Wind 0%.
SA RENEWABLES CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA WITH BATTERIES, SOLAR AND WIND PRODUCING NO ELECTRICITY, ZERO, NOTHING
We are up to 4,185 signatures, let’s increase it by many more, everyone’s future depends on it. Continue to spread the word, to all family, friends, anyone you meet, particularly discuss it with shop and business owners. Ask the question, “How do you plan to cope when the blackouts come? The possibility is too awful to contemplate.
WE MUST KEEP THOSE COAL FIRED GENERATORS GOING, TO KEEP OUR SOCIETY FROM HAVING BLACKOUTS, POWER RATIONING AND EXHORBITENT ENERGY PRICES.