NEWS: Power lines providing electricity and telegraph poles in Port Macquarie, NSW.
THE projected electricity price rises have prompted, yet again, calls for privatisation - the replacement of a government monopoly with a private one.
The essence of privatisation is that greater competition will lead to greater productivity and better products and services.
This would not occur with electricity generation and distribution because of the huge investment in capital and infrastructure.
Will customers get choice of generator and choice of distributor under a privatised electricity industry? No way!
We already have choice of retailer for processing accounts and that has provided no discernible benefit.
The end result of shifting the electricity monopoly from government to private control will be that the focus for benefit will shift from the customer to the shareholder, as has happened with banking, insurance, air travel, petroleum production etc.
Peter de Medici, Jindalee
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THE article on power tariffs (C-M, Feb 23) included a column from Treasurer Tim Nichols seeking to explain some of the causes. This column was countered by an aggressive "analysis" by Robert MacDonald.
The issues that I would have liked included in an analysis are: For each $1 I am charged how much of that dollar is wholesale Price of Electricity; state government dividends; transmission line costs; subsidies to wind and solar farms; subsidies to household solar panel installations; subsidies to pay for the solar buy backs; carbon tax; and average profit to the private retailers?
Now I know that this list isn't exhaustive, but it would go a long way to helping us understand why the costs of electricity are accelerating.
Sid Ryan, Mooloolaba
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IN DISCUSSING proposed electricity cost rises, Treasurer Tim Nicholls states that these costs "are controlled by the Australian Energy Regulator, which is overseen by the Gillard government".
To put the record straight it should be noted that the AER is not "overseen by Government" but is an Independent Statutory Authority established by John Howard in 2005.
Michael Collins, Narangba
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IT WAS the LNP who promised to reduced the cost of living a year ago. So far it is everyone else's fault.
Time to get to work Treasurer Tim Nicholls.
Patrick Breen, Kawungan
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Male swimmers only sorry they were caught
I CAN'T help wondering if the furore about the behaviour of the men's Olympic relay swimming team would have occurred if they had won.
These young men are extremely talented swimmers, not saints.
For goodness sake, let's let them get on with the rest of their lives and acknowledge that they have given thousands of hours of their youth to achieving the standard required to represent their country.
Surely that should be worth something - other than condemnation.
Colleen Hansen, Aspley
THE news conference by the swim team and their remorse shown is a good way to get sympathy from the public.
Isn't that the usual avenue taken by our sports stars whenever they get found out?
Frank Haack, Rockhampton
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THE only penalty the swimmers will understand will be a ban to never represent Australia again.
Monetary penalties, whether it be fines or withdrawal of funding, will not mean anything to them.
The behaviour of team management also needs to be looked at seriously.
Derek Phillips, Toowoomba
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TO me, the admission of guilt by so-called "weapons of mass destruction" reeks of Lance Armstrong's confession.
They are only sorry they got caught. Kick them out.
Carmel Seipel, Mt Gravatt
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Solar targeting misses mark
THE QCA's recommendation of a 20 per cent increase in our power bills (C-M, Feb 23) leaves those of us with solar panels again targeted as partly responsible.
To suggest we (who astutely invested in the offer of 44c/KwH on energy exported to the grid through to 2028) should be forced to purchase our own battery banks capable of storing generated power for our own personal use is a poorly researched proposal.
As the Clean Energy Council stated, "This is a bit like charging people with energy-efficient cars more for their petrol because they use less of it."
Geoff Hull, Victoria Point
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IT HAS been made clear that solar power subsidies are only responsible for 20 per cent of power cost increases. Why do we concentrate on this minor contribution, when the real problem is somewhere else? Everyone had ample opportunity to isolate themselves from any power cost increase well into the future, simply by installing a PV system.
John Rosenfelder, Logan Village THE feed-in tariff for solar cells is always held up as a cost to other consumers. But Energex has stated that solar cells save $56 per consumer in not having to pay high prices for peak power and the cost of the tariff is estimated at $54/consumer.
Therefore the "haves" are saving the "have nots" $2/year. So next time you complain of the solar cells on others' roofs, remember they are saving you money.
Kurt Jorgensen, Fairney View
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MY neighbour is better off than me and can afford solar power. I can't. I pay for my power and his. Where's Robin Hood when we need him?
David Page, Toowoomba
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Not rapt with traffic tax plan
WHAT is it with these people who want a traffic congestion tax (C-M, Feb 23)?
Is it that when you're on a high salary you would not notice the extra tax? Or do they have a car allowance where they can claim a rebate?
I wonder if these people have lived in Brisbane all their lives like me and consider the CBD as my local shopping centre, or are they just blow-ins?
If they or anyone else think the congestion tax in London, Stockholm or Singapore has reduced traffic congestion in those cities, please go and live there, because I believe Brisbane does not have anywhere near the same problems.
Valdy Kwitowski, Annerley
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WITH regard to your recent editorial and Paul Syvret's article (C-M, Feb 23) praising "congestion charging" as a fix for our traffic woes: have you gone mad?
Would you trust any of our elected governments not to use this as another form of revenue raising?
And if anyone other than Ken Henry really believes the revenue will be used "... to cut fuel taxes and abolish other charges such as motor vehicle stamp duty", they too must be living in La La Land.
Les Farbotko, Carseldine
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