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The big battery being used to push electricity prices to the market cap | RenewEconomy

https://reneweconomy-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/reneweconomy.com.au/the-big-battery-being-used-to-push-electricity-prices-to-the-market-cap/amp/?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16883929054559&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Freneweconomy.com.au%2Fthe-big-battery-being-used-to-push-electricity-prices-to-the-market-cap%2F

15 comments

Railison

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Maybe this could be fixed by a rule change. The national electricity objectives state that the system should operate in favour of lower costs.

I would assume that gaming the system to raise costs would run counter to that.

morry040

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A government-owned and operated battery could be an option. This would limit the extent to which the other providers could capitalise on the spikes in demand and provide a solution that is not aimed at generating maximum profits.

WaterWaiver

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Maybe this could be fixed by a rule change.

I am doubtful. More rules have been added for years and years but the players still find ways of gaming. I suspect the core premises of the system need changing.

Railison

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I do not disagree with you there! NEM is like a band aid pyramid now

TassieTosser

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Can someone dumb down the article for someone who isn't an electrical engineer?

18107

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Power prices fluctuate. If more power is needed than is supplied, prices will go up until either someone reduces their demand, or someone generates more power.

Some companies are deliberately waiting for extra high prices before they start delivering more power, and now they are doing the same with batteries.

They could be supplying the power much earlier and cheaper with batteries (unlike peaker plants that cost a lot to operate), but they just decided not to.

Batteries are not the problem, it's the companies who are using them for profit instead of for grid stability.

TassieTosser

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Sounds like power generation and storage needs to be nationalised. Let the private companies fight over providing to the last mile.

Taleya

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I look forward to the SEC going right up their arse

No1

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Power companies already have a playbook based on the 2001 California Electricity Crisis .

PBS Frontline has a good program on it called Blackout.

TheHolm

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Renewables gives more opportunities for such companies to to do such things. Instability of grid is main reason. But I fail to see how it is related to batteries? They can do exactly same with just coal.