Guest essay by Eric Worrall

The problem with all electric houses, aside from the running cost, is sometimes the electricity fails.

The climate-change changes the politicians don’t want to talk about

Ross Gittins
Economics Editor March 1, 2022 — 4.29pm

It’s strange to think that both sides of politics are leading us to a policy-free federal election campaign at a time when we have so many problems we should be debating. Not that the parties won’t have policies written on a bit of paper somewhere, but that they don’t want to talk about them.

Why not? Because any policy you propose can be used by your opponent to spread scare stories about your intentions. Last time, for instance, Scott Morrison used Labor’s support for electric vehicles to claim it was out to destroy the weekend.

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Gas has been declining as a share of Australia’s power supply since 2014, and this is likely to continue. “Gas will play an important backstop role in power generation when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing – but this role will not require large volumes of gas.”

In the home, people value being able to choose between gas and electricity for cooking and heating, but this can’t continue. They’ll save money and reduce emissions when all new houses are all-electric.

“The uncomfortable truth is that natural gas is most likely in decline in Australia, and achieving the net-zero target requires that to happen … Attempts to hold back the tide through direct market interventions, such as contemplated in [Morrison’s] National Gas Infrastructure Plan, will probably require ongoing subsidies at great expense to taxpayers.”

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Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-climate-change-changes-the-politicians-don-t-want-to-talk-about-20220301-p5a0mj.html

I’ve endured three electricity outages in the last decade, one of which lasted a week. I was able to keep the freezer, a fan, an electric light and the TV going with a gasoline generator. But electric cookers consume far more power than freezers and fans, that is why they are usually permanently wired into household electricity, to minimise the risk of accidents.

Most gas cookers just keep on working if the power fails. Maybe you need matches if lighting your cooker needs electricity.

Of course some greens have anticipated this rush to reliability – California is banning gasoline powered emergency equipment, including generators, because, you know, the government should be in charge of your energy consumption. People should be satisfied with what PG&E delivers, if and when it delivers, right? /sarc