REFUSED: Your Right to Know

The Power Price Story They Won’t Let You See

By Aidan Morrison

Powerlines asked the NSW government whether they’ve modelled electricity prices. And it’s found a trove of modelling and analysis, which the NSW government has entirely refused to disclose to the public. They know prices are going UP. And are hiding it.

Below is a recent document from a serious consultancy, all about “Price impact of coal exit” and some industrial loads.

That would tell us for sure whether the energy transition is working, or whether we still need coal.

REFUSED.

EY modelling on the Waratah Super Battery. This is network infrastructure that the NSW Minister directed Transgrid to carry out in 2022.

(i.e. it’s not a commercial investment, we’ll be forced to pay for it.)

In September 2024, still figuring out “configuration.”

REFUSED.

“Preliminary Advice” on the coal modelling, a month earlier than the final report.

REFUSED.

Springvale project… a battery and vehicle charging project in Western Sydney.

How or whether that makes sense would definitely require some idea about price and price volatility.

REFUSED.

More internal (i.e. Government) analysis on the Springvale project.

None of these kinds of things stack up commercially. They always come crawling into government to make the case for subsidies, mandates, or funding of one kind or another.

REFUSED.

CIE is the Centre for International Economics, another consultancy. They have another report on the impacts of energy prices on NSW manufacturers.

This would likely be a bleak report.

REFUSED.

My guess is that BID stands for Business Information Document or similar, probably another proposal. Not sure what, but it probably had some price projections.

REFUSED.

This one could be JUICY.

EC is likely Executive Committee.

I’m pretty sure NE is New England (a proposed massive Renewable Energy Zone).

ASL is AEMO Services Limited, which acts as the “Consumer Trustee.” This is essentially a rubber-stamp for economic and consumer interests being well served, as the government ignores all economic and consumer interests and declares renewable energy zones to be required in the name of arbitrary targets, forcing consumers to pay for them.

Meshed and radial engagement of ASL to inform someone about New England sounds like considering how the transmission project could, would, or should proceed to facilitate the REZ, and trying to figure out what’s least expensive. It would all be horrendously expensive. The Central West Orana REZ is of even smaller capacity, and is already slated at over $5 billion.

REFUSED.

Last but certainly not least...

“Summary of economic assessment undertaken on NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap projects.”

BINGO.

Would assess the economic impact of the whole renewables strategy.

Or summarise that no proper assessment has been done.

REFUSED.

Last week Chris Uhlmann asked NSW Premier Chris Minns whether he could tell us when NSW electricity prices would come down. Without missing a beat he said: “No. I would never make unrealistic promises about prices, particularly when it comes to energy.”

But the full truth almost certainly paints a clearer, and more alarming, picture.

And they’re bending over backwards to ensure we don’t see it.

Aidan Morrison is the Director of Energy Research at the Centre for Independent Studies.

https://www.cis.org.au/person/aidan-morrison/