�鶹ӳ�� - Energy privatisation

Eraring Power Station cash grab shows energy must be publicly owned

Zane Alcorn — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:15:00 +1000

In yet another public hand-out to fossil energy, NSW Labor has said the ageing Eraring coal-fired power station will stay open until 2027 to ensure a stable power supply. But there are other options, argue Zane Alcorn and Pip Hinman.

The political cost of Labor’s small target strategy

Peter Boyle — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:15:00 +1100

Labor’s small target strategy offers little to people and further shrinks the already thin political differences between the major parties, argues Peter Boyle.

US colonial policies behind Hurricane Fiona power blackout in Puerto Rico

Barry Sheppard — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:15:00 +1000

The blackout that engulfed Puerto Rico when Hurricane Fiona laid bare the impacts of austerity and privatisation carried under United States fiscal control, reports Barry Sheppard.

Does Mexico’s wind industry deliver more dirty profits than clean energy?

Tamara Pearson/Truthout — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:45:00 +1000

While wind farms are touted as climate solutions, profit-hungry companies are actually causing widespread damage, reports Tamara Pearson.

First hit by privatisation, Puerto Rico in 'total blackout' as hurricane makes landfall

Jon Queally — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:30:00 +1000

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. Then the power grid was privatised in 2020. Now this, reports Jon Queally.

NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd calls for the energy sector to be nationalised

Paul Gregoire — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +1000

While the energy sector remains in private hands, it will resist any transition away from fossil fuels. Greens MLC Abigail Boyd discusses the urgent need to take it back into public hands.

Energy crisis: Time to talk seriously about public ownership

Sue Bull — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +1000

The energy crisis we didn’t need to have has put the question of a publicly-owned energy industry on the table again. Sue Bull argues that is the only way to keep good jobs and energy prices down.

Nationalise the energy sector

Pip Hinman — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:30:00 +1000

The suspension of the national electricity market points to the need to learn from the past. The whole idea of having an energy market for a commodity that everyone needs is a scam, argues Pip Hinman.

NSW Premier affirms privatisation spree

Jim McIlroy — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:00:00 +1000

As if to dispel any doubts that her privatisation spree was ending, Jim McIlroy writes that the NSW Premier has moved to reassure private corporations that it is not.

California wildfires: Climate change, prison labour and the electric company

Barry Sheppard — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 11:30:00 +1100

Throughout the intense wildfires that gripped California since July, the media barely mentioned their underlying cause — climate change and energy company profiteering, writes Barry Sheppard.

More nails in the coffin of the electricity market?

Andrea Bunting — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +1000

In Australia, the National Electricity Market is rapidly becoming dysfunctional, with power shortages, blackouts and soaring prices making headlines.

Private companies are refusing to invest in new fossil fuel generators to replace those that have closed. This “investment strike” is due partly to uncertainty about carbon pricing and partly to increasingly volatile spot prices received by generators.

Protesters oppose privatisation of Western Power

Alex Salmon — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Up to 1000 people gathered outside state Parliament on November 15 to protest against plans by the Western Australian Coalition government to sell the state’s main electricity provider, Western Power.

The protest was organised by the Use your Power Group, headed by the Australian Services Union (ASU) and Electrical Trades Union. There was also strong support from the Maritime Union of Australia, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, United Voice, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and State School Teachers Union.

Privatisation on the nose says ACCC chief

Viv Miley — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +1000

Privatisation continues to be touted as a quick fix, so the mantra goes “public sector bad, private sector good”. That is, using community funds and resources to build up a vital service or piece of infrastructure, usually over a period of many years, then when there is a “budget crisis” selling it off to yield a quick cash injection and the removal of an expense from the ledger — regardless of whether it is generating income or not — while giving sweetheart deals to the new owners to ensure monopoly-like conditions to maximise their profits.

Greens slam 'quick and nasty' inquiry into power sale

Jim McIlroy — Fri, 15 May 2015 10:00:00 +1000

NSW Greens MP John Kaye has slammed the upper house inquiry, chaired by Christian Democrats leader Fred Nile, into the government's planned privatisation of the state's "poles and wires" electricity network. The public was given just seven days to make written submissions into the future of the NSW electricity grid, and will not be able to appear in person before the inquiry. "By delivering a quick-and-nasty timetable to suit the political convenience of the [Mike] Baird government, Fred Nile has denied his inquiry any credibility," Kaye said on May 11.

Nile pawn in Baird government power sell off

Jim McIlroy — Fri, 29 May 2015 10:00:00 +1000

The Baird Coalition government is rushing its legislation for the privatisation of NSW power assets through the Legislative Assembly, without waiting for the report of the Legislative Council’s inquiry into the sell-off, due on June 2. The move to fast track the bill before the inquiry, chaired by Christian Democrat leader Fred Nile, releases its report, exposes the inquiry as a sham, according to Greens NSW MLC John Kaye. Premier Mike Baird has ridden roughshod over the process and denied the public a proper investigation into the long-term impacts of the sale.

Baird to be questioned over NSW power industry sale

Jim McIlroy — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +1000

NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird is likely to be called before the parliamentary inquiry into the state government's proposed privatisation of the "poles and wires" of the state's electricity industry in May. Baird will be questioned over allegations of government tampering with an expert report on the planned leasing of the power industry before the recent March state election.