The totally off-topic thread

[JohnK]

But wouldn't it more be midnight/mid day where power was re-connected that would get you? And doesn't yours flash still when power has been disconnected even though it is still counting the time from power re-connection?

Yes it does flash if disconnected. Just nice to know for how long.

 

[Princess Fiona]

How did you guess? I leave the microwave connected so I can tell if there have been any power failures/blackouts. Unless of course the power has been cut off around midday/midnight.

Have had a few blackouts already but only for a few hours.

Microwave? So you can tell the time/time zone you are in when you get home? Or so you have it as a litmus test to tell if the power is disconnected while you have been away and not to bother opening the fridge?

Do this with most things when I go away. Just the fridge and microwave are left plugged in.

Ugh!!! My parents and house cleaner do this all the time even if going out for the day. Drives me nuts !!!
We leave everything plugged in. Even if away for weeks.
Maybe I'd be rich if I didn't ?

 

[Bindibuys]

But NEVER turn off your septic system....

 

[JohnK]

I submit monthly meter readings for elec + gas over here, although quarterly is all that is needed. Anyway, it always comes in well below the estimated bill as the Mrs and I don't really consume all that much and for the size property we have, we're well under 'average use'.

I don't understand how I can be gone for 1/2 the month and still use the average amount of power for the month!

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

Thank the gold plating of wires and poles by the retail companies. <snip>.

I don't understand the 'gold plating' argument. What's the implication? That the local poles and wires are over-specced? Straight question - what's meant by 'gold plated' in this sense? (Remember that outside the suburbs, the 'wires' are run by companies separate from the retailers and their tariffs are set by a regulator based on a rate-of-return formula.)

I used to run a (very small !!) renewable energy generation company and honestly, when I looked at the 'poles and wires' (local) and 'wires' (regional) physical network, the worry was that it was going to fall down, rather than be 'gold plated'. Lots of areas on the regional network that weren't available to us, as the wires and other infrastructure couldn't handle additional load.

 

[mushez]

I don't understand how I can be gone for 1/2 the month and still use the average amount of power for the month!

Cause we know you are gone - so we all come over and have a party, and charge our cell phones at your place. Joys of you advertising it in the lounge meets.

 

[JessicaTam]

Happy Star Wars day all. Especially to the two newlywed AFFers!

 

[medhead]

I don't understand how I can be gone for 1/2 the month and still use the average amount of power for the month!

Because they do an estimate when not actually reading the meter. They just say that the average apartment has a $62 bill and then bill you that amount. In theory when they eventually read the meter they should bill for actual use and you might get a refund/credit. But this is precisely why I reject this average bill estimate rubbish, I don't trust them.

I don't understand the 'gold plating' argument. What's the implication? That the local poles and wires are over-specced? Straight question - what's meant by 'gold plated' in this sense? (Remember that outside the suburbs, the 'wires' are run by companies separate from the retailers and their tariffs are set by a regulator based on a rate-of-return formula.)

I used to run a (very small !!) renewable energy generation company and honestly, when I looked at the 'poles and wires' (local) and 'wires' (regional) physical network, the worry was that it was going to fall down, rather than be 'gold plated'. Lots of areas on the regional network that weren't available to us, as the wires and other infrastructure couldn't handle additional load.

Pretty much over-spec is the argument as best I understand it. The proposition is that the model for network maintenance encourages the power companies to over invest, or maybe inflate the cost of maintenance. That as best I understand this comment, who knows if it's true.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Happy Star Wars day all. Especially to the two newlywed AFFers!

Yes day for them to remember.

Had a courier drive collect some parcels today and couldn't remember the date, I said don't you remember its Starwars day May the 4th,

"Oh yes I do remember hearing about that on the radio. "

Its was easy to write as well, 4/5/16

 

[JohnK]

Happy Star Wars day all. Especially to the two newlywed AFFers!

Newlyweds? Now who could that be?

Nah, seriously. Who could that be?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Happy Star Wars day all. Especially to the two newlywed AFFers!

A million likes for this post Jess.!! Wish I could have been there to celebrate instead of stuck in SYD for two days work secondment.

 

[Mal]

Happy Star Wars day all. Especially to the two newlywed AFFers!

A million likes for this post Jess.!! Wish I could have been there to celebrate instead of stuck in SYD for two days work secondment.

Agree, but worse for me. I'm stuck in London experiencing recruiter hell!

 

[cove]

English Premier League thru Optus has my son enraged by the pricing. The social media backlash was building last night so today it should get reported in the news.

 

[Flashback]

Agree, but worse for me. I'm stuck in London experiencing recruiter hell!

Oh come on, you really enjoy it

 

[Hvr]

Newlyweds? Now who could that be?

Nah, seriously. Who could that be?

I have no idea either.

 

[marki]

I actually have the same problem.
My understanding of this phenomena is limited.

I don't understand how I can be gone for 1/2 the month and still use the average amount of power for the month!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

English Premier League thru Optus has my son enraged by the pricing. The social media backlash was building last night so today it should get reported in the news.

Was widely reported in MEL yesterday cave man - mind boggling - I ain't the sharpest pencil in the tin but the whole concept has me baffled.

 

[cove]

Our children seem to get traction by using something they call Twitter to express their views on issues like this CE while we just cruise thru life. So a business called Optus seems to have their boot on EPL. All I remember about Optus was their sales force tried to tell us their mobile phone network was ok about a decade before it was.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

Thank the gold plating of wires and poles by the retail companies. <snip>.

I don't understand the 'gold plating' argument. What's the implication? That the local poles and wires are over-specced? Straight question - what's meant by 'gold plated' in this sense? (Remember that outside the suburbs, the 'wires' are run by companies separate from the retailers and their tariffs are set by a regulator based on a rate-of-return formula.)

<snip>.

<snip>

Pretty much over-spec is the argument as best I understand it. The proposition is that the model for network maintenance encourages the power companies to over invest, or maybe inflate the cost of maintenance. That as best I understand this comment, who knows if it's true.

OK a bit of Googling answers my own question. The issue is the regulated rate of return I mentioned above. This is for the high voltage transmission 'wires businesses' (not the retail 'poles and wires'). Because the 'wires' businesses are a natural monopoly, the National Electricity Market rules say that those businesses can charge customers (usually the retailers) a fee related to the value of the assets employed - hence 'regulated rate of return'.

Apparently there has been some over-building of transmission towers and related switching gear etc, no so much over-specced, but either too large (and expensive) for the anticipated power demand or via inflated capital spend. Illustrative article here.

 

[blackcat20]

The cake was quite impressive!