Peak and Off-peak -will this tariff remain under smart meters?

When getting the new electricity meter installed we encountered the peak/off-peak tariff issue. We were asked by our electricity retailer, who promotes solar systems, to get a time switch installed so we could keep the off peak electrical boost to our solar hot water. This tended to suggest the peak/off-peak tariff is intact.
The installers of the PV system didn't know and veered off the issue when I talked to them. But this was before a large number of installs and changeovers to smart meters had begun. so I hope they might be more familiar with the issue now. The electricity company representative seemed to be the most knowledgeable and helpful over the issue, particularly in getting the smart meter installed after "discovering" the off-peak issue.
The Department of Primary Industries Smart Meters & My Electricity bill information indicates that some off-peak tariffs will remain  until time of use rates become available "Once time-of-use rates become available, all energy used in off-peak times can be charged at off-peak rates. Currently, only specific appliances can benefit from off-peak rates."  Hopefully Solar Hot Water is a specific appliance or my other half is going to lose his temper (again!).
BUT time will tell and it will be very interesting getting the first bill, for a number of reasons!
One of my colleagues received her bill recently and has generated $100 excess over the electricity used. She has a 1.5 KWh system with a smaller household (and possibly much greener) so we will be comparing notes over billing and performance.

Earth Hour 2010 This Saturday 8.30pm : Renewable Energy News

Earth Hour 2010 This Saturday 8.30pm : Renewable Energy News

Remember to join the fun and sit in the dark playing cards, or something interesting!

Solar Power and Solar Hot Water

Since getting my 1KWh Solar PV system installed late last year I have been watching how well it performs. We have reasonably ideal conditions for the system. North - NNW facing roof, high enough pitch to match the latitude and a light colour, thus hopefully providing cooler conditions on the very hot days.
So far the system has averaged 5KWh per day until very recently.
Lately the generation has started to fall off somewhat. On good days we were getting over 6KWh/day whereas now its struggling to reach the 4.5-5 area. As the equinox has just past and the hot weather is still continuing, conditions which reduce the solar gain, so we will have to see how the system goes in the later part of the year, when the spring equinox arrives in September.
It has also been quite cloudy so on these days we struggle to reach 2-3 KWh.

I am still awaiting my federal government rebate and also still awaiting my electricity bill. So far we seem to have put a reasonable amount of electricity back into the grid, enough to halve the electricity bill. But having a very warm summer also has meant more than usual use of air conditioning (easy since we didn't have it last  year!) so at least some of the watts and $$ generated have been used to keep us cool.
I am hoping my new meter is also set up to keep the off-peak tariff that we used to have before the installation of the solar power. Time will tell as to how efficient my electricity provider is in the billing side, and whether I can  figure the bill out!

CO2 Video

I came across some interesting climate science information recently:
Why CO2 levels lagged temperature rise in previous warming cycles
Why Deniers attack Climate Science & Scientists
And lastly a CO2 Youtube video.

Keeping Rudd warm

The Insulation debate continues with the heat being turned on the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. It will be interesting to see if he is forced to reveal correspondence with Peter Garrett re tightening the home insulation rebate rules. This is where the true issue of the debate is. Not that there are shonky dealers but how well the process was handled through the government system of minsters, parliamentary secretaries and officers. Other links to the story include Insulation inquiry: more alarming stories emerge by Sabra Lane.
By now it should be apparent that the Opposition is out for blood. Whether they get it remains to be seen.
Other Climate change news includes reporting of the speech by Economic department deputy director  Xie Zenhua - Climate Change is a fact. While China may blame the west (quite rightly) for man-made climate change it only has itself to blame for its environment degredation and handling of energy policies.
And finally the IPCC will have its independent review, not of the science, but of its procedures. At least the review means there is a process in place to check for apparent biases or suppositions unsupported by facts. Unlike the Climate Change deniers who exercise very little control, no humility and actively misrepresent or cherry-pick the facts.

Hailstorm hits Melbourne

A tropical storm hit Melbourne yesterday. It caused chaos in a wide band through the Melbourne CBD and suburbs. We weren't in its path but nearby suburbs reported heavy damage after golf ball sized hail and lashing rain hit cars, windows and flooded streets. Enjoy!

More insulation debate information

A couple more media articles have emerged discussing the insulation debate/rebate/debacle rationally and with some statistical precision. Though difficult to be exact about the numbers these 2 articles make interesting reading.
First look at:

Did the insulation program actually reduce fire risk? by Possum Comitatus , Pollytics blog on Crikey.com on Feb 24. Complete with figures and reasoned arguments.

Secondly look at :

Insulation fire risk was worse before rebate by John Watson in "The Age" today, 4 March.

I agree with his comments - "If the program has proved anything, it is that Australia abounds with shonky businesses, ''she'll be right'' tradesmen, hypocritical politicians who habitually sacrifice workplace safety on the altar of business-friendly policy, and careless, pack-hunting journalists. That, I'm afraid, is not much of a revelation at all"

I hope soon to hear of successful prosecutions of shonky insulation dealers. However, the sensationalist reporting of these issues by many in the media are of just as much concern. Who can govern well with such insidious attacks and misrepresentations? And what are most people exposed to - reasoned arguments or hysterical mis-representation??