Health Risks of Renewable Energy Targets
In Australia, the land we call “The Lucky Country”, soaring electricity bills due to the renewable energy targets (RET) and the subsequent need by electricity suppliers to upgrade to meet this challenge will increase the health risks for impoverished Australians, especially the elderly.
Electrical bills have increased by 60 to 300% for households around the country, forcing many into “fuel poverty” as they contend with spending 10% of their annual income on energy costs. Bill shocks will continue as the Australian Federal Government strives to force consumer demand down.
Electrical bills have increased by 60 to 300% for households around the country, forcing many into “fuel poverty” as they contend with spending 10% of their annual income on energy costs. Bill shocks will continue as the Australian Federal Government strives to force consumer demand down.
Already the highly vulnerable contend with electrical costs by:
1. Living at home with no electricity supply.
2. Using candles and torches to light the home.
3. Using unsafe flammable liquid lamps, cooking devices and heaters.
4. Washing in cold water, winter and summer.
5. Fans, heaters and air conditioners left unused.
6. Cold meals, winter and summer.
7. Cutting back on medications.
8. Cutting back on food.
9. Little or no social life.
1. Living at home with no electricity supply.
2. Using candles and torches to light the home.
3. Using unsafe flammable liquid lamps, cooking devices and heaters.
4. Washing in cold water, winter and summer.
5. Fans, heaters and air conditioners left unused.
6. Cold meals, winter and summer.
7. Cutting back on medications.
8. Cutting back on food.
9. Little or no social life.
With more Aussie Battlers likely to suffer the same fate, poor physical and mental health issues as a result of soaring electricity bills.
Renewable energy targets may add to the 1.6 billion people
living without electricity around the world (source)
In general, the days of paying a electricity bill off in one payment are gone. Electricity suppliers have been inundated by those struggling to pay their electricity bills, with extensions being granted to pay them off over a period of time; much like a personal loan.
Even though many of us have cut down on the usage of air conditioners, clothes dryers, pool pumps and installed energy efficient devices around the home, we’re finding these measures are not enough as our bills continue to remain frustratingly high, and for some, with no logical explanation.
Although state governments have introduced a range of electricity rebates they’re obviously insufficient in assisting impoverished Australians – New South Wales (NSW) has a rebate of only $145 per year. The positive step would be to increase rebates to such a level to negate any suffering, especially when state governments are set for a GST windfall on the back of increased power bills, with up to $550m a year from NSW and Queensland alone.
It appears the full impact of the renewable energy targets has been underestimated and something must be done now to prevent further suffering.
Even though many of us have cut down on the usage of air conditioners, clothes dryers, pool pumps and installed energy efficient devices around the home, we’re finding these measures are not enough as our bills continue to remain frustratingly high, and for some, with no logical explanation.
Although state governments have introduced a range of electricity rebates they’re obviously insufficient in assisting impoverished Australians – New South Wales (NSW) has a rebate of only $145 per year. The positive step would be to increase rebates to such a level to negate any suffering, especially when state governments are set for a GST windfall on the back of increased power bills, with up to $550m a year from NSW and Queensland alone.
It appears the full impact of the renewable energy targets has been underestimated and something must be done now to prevent further suffering.
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1. Are you suffering from fuel poverty?
2. Have you experienced electricity bill shock?
3. What have you done to lower your electricity bills and did it work?
4. Do you know of anyone that is living without electricity?
5. Can you explain why your electricity bills are so high?
2. Have you experienced electricity bill shock?
3. What have you done to lower your electricity bills and did it work?
4. Do you know of anyone that is living without electricity?
5. Can you explain why your electricity bills are so high?
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5 comments - care to make one?:
Hey Peter!
Shocking! Politicians should've worked up a bill benefitting more the impoverished ones.
For example, our electricity also sky rocketed this year; however the most impoverished (including disabled people on state subsidies) are entitled to a huge rebate on their bill - they receive, from the state, a document stating their right to that rebate (supported by the rest of
us, of course - but hey, it is for a good cause, I guess).
The soaring electricity bills can have devastating social consequences. What are Aussies going to do about it?
No, I am not suffering from fuel poverty.
Portugal is experiencing electricity bill shocks this year - but nobody is complaining just yet.
I confess I am spending the same amount of electricity as before (specially with the heaters now in winter). I don't use AC in summer.
No, I know no one who lives without electricity.
The bills are so high because EDP (Electricity of Portugal) rips off its clients at any chance it gets. I can't even blame the renewable energies targets, because EDP even buys energy from clients who supply their own homes/business with solar energy...so that can't be it.
An important post, no doubt.
Cheers
Hi Max. Electricity bill shocks pale in comparison to the devastating floods occurring in our northern state of Queensland and Brazil right now. Can you believe what's happening in both those areas? It is so sad.
Anyone complaining about trivial things should hang their heads in shame after watching what is going on there.
Now, it is good to see that the ones who most need helping out in Portugal are being helped on levels that are more than satisfactory. As for the social consequences of sky rocketing electricity bills Down Under, we are are pulling in our belts to get over this troublesome hurdle.
No AC in summer? You're a heat lover then! Me, it just hate summer, especially when it hovers around 45 degree Celsius or 113 on the old readings, as it did last year.
Again, thank you for your most valuable input!
Take Care,
Peter
Peter,
Yes, I have been following the environmental mishaps in both Brazil and Brisbane: it is so sad indeed.
"Anyone complaining about trivial things should hang their heads in shame after watching what is going on there."
Absolutely, mate! Absolutely!
LOL well, let's just say that I appreciate warm weather :). But I can tell you that if Portugal would reach temps like 45ºC, I'd probably detest summer myself.
I wish you a top weekend!
Cheers
It sounds like an awful situation, Peter. While we pay very high rates here on Long Island, in the USA, the rates for power don't seem to stand out as a source of hardship, as much as joblessness and homelessness do at the moment.
The world economy and the USA economy are suffering, in my opinion, from a runaway profit-motive and corporate greed. The way I see it, that's almost always the bottom line.
It's upsetting to think of people going without power and giving up normal comforts to compensate for high rates. I don't think anyone can even predict all the consequences to both mental and physical health, over time.
What is the Aussie media saying about it?
Hi Lynda. First off, thank you so such for a wonderful and constructive comment that highlights not only your hometown and the US of A, but Australia as well.
Now, I understand the reasons for bailouts but for companies to continue to pay millions in bonuses is beyond belief and logic.
What is the Aussie media saying about what I have mentioned? They have highlighted a number of cases where people are on the brink, especially for those looking after family members who require health care devices that result in high electricity bills.
As for my examples, I searched high and low looking for anything that came close but only a few have been covered by the media.
Again, thank you and take care,
Peter
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