The state of the economy at the street level

[Boggo]

I love electricity companies like I luv mobile carriers, talk about trying to confuse the crap out of basic pricing.

Example.
90 Day Account, connection fee has no discount applied.

Which is the best deal?

It's more complicated now than it was before the "simplify" requirement.

I have just had a 6.6 kw/hr solar system installed today and now I have the same three variables as above plus a variable feed in tariff, now four variables to contend with

One of these days the ACCC's testes will drop and all will be ok

 

[qldfrog]

It's more complicated now than it was before the "simplify" requirement.

I have just had a 6.6 kw/hr solar system installed today and now I have the same three variables as above plus a variable feed in tariff, now four variables to contend with

One of these days the ACCC's testes will drop and all will be ok

@Boggo you also forget a solar connection fee.i am not kidding
5 parameters...

 

[Value Collector]

It's more complicated now than it was before the "simplify" requirement.

I have just had a 6.6 kw/hr solar system installed today and now I have the same three variables as above plus a variable feed in tariff, now four variables to contend with

One of these days the ACCC's testes will drop and all will be ok

Make sure you call your energy company and double check they have put you on a solar plan, and you aren't still on your old plan.

I have installed 3 systems this year, 1 on my house and 2 on investment properties, and every single one has had the switching to the solar plan delayed by a month, because they said even though I had the system installed through them, I hadn't specifically called to ask to be put on a solar plan, so I wasn't earning credits.

Even though once I was bitten on the first system, I did call for the other 2 right after they were installed, it never actually got switched, So I suggest calling a few times to make sure.

 

[Boggo]

@Boggo you also forget a solar connection fee.i am not kidding
5 parameters...

and now a fee to change the meter to a smart meter and they can't do it until the 18th !!

Make sure you call your energy company and double check they have put you on a solar plan, and you aren't still on your old plan.

I have installed 3 systems this year, 1 on my house and 2 on investment properties, and every single one has had the switching to the solar plan delayed by a month, because they said even though I had the system installed through them, I hadn't specifically called to ask to be put on a solar plan, so I wasn't earning credits.

Even though once I was bitten on the first system, I did call for the other 2 right after they were installed, it never actually got switched, So I suggest calling a few times to make sure.

Good point, will get on to it as I hadn't really considered that bit. Thanks.

 

[Humid]

Getting a lot of calls from guys I worked in construction with from east looking for work over here atm
Still plenty of shutdown work available for anyone with a heartbeat and trade cert

 

[moXJO]

Getting a lot of calls from guys I worked in construction with from east looking for work over here atm
Still plenty of shutdown work available for anyone with a heartbeat and trade cert

The money still good?
A lot of the mines and big firms here are pushing minimum rates at contractors.

 

[Smurf1976]

Make sure you call your energy company and double check they have put you on a solar plan, and you aren't still on your old plan.

Also be very sure that the solar isn't switched on before this is sorted if you have a Type 4 or 5 meter (aka "smart meter") installed.

Reason being that depending on the programming it may record your exports to the grid as consumption meaning that not only will you not be receiving payment, you'll in fact be charged for power you send into the grid.

For a Type 6 meter (the old rotating disc with dials on it) it varies between states. Strictly speaking you're not allowed to turn the solar on but some states will turn a blind eye and yes the meter will run backwards without harm. Just don't take it back below the value shown as the reading on your last bill, so don't "clock it", otherwise it'll mess the billing up in a rather spectacular manner.

 

[PZ99]

Let's export some rare earths

https://www.aussiestockforums.com/posts/1031367/

Here we go

Australia and the US have been in discussions to form a rare earths joint action plan to open up what has become a concentrated market that's dominated by China.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/austral...llenge-china-s-hold-on-the-rare-earths-market

 

[sptrawler]

Here we go

Australia and the US have been in discussions to form a rare earths joint action plan to open up what has become a concentrated market that's dominated by China.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/austral...llenge-china-s-hold-on-the-rare-earths-market

There could be opportunity for a speculative gamble, but is the upside already factored into the price of companies like Lynas?

 

[Humid]

The money still good?
A lot of the mines and big firms here are pushing minimum rates at contractors.

Around $50 flat 11.5 hour days
A lot of companies are just hiring buses and driving the blokes to the next shut a few hours away

 

[willy1111]

Around $50 flat 11.5 hour days
A lot of companies are just hiring buses and driving the blokes to the next shut a few hours away

What qualifications are required?

 

[Humid]

What qualifications are required?

Mechanical/electrical trade cert of some description
EWP work @ heights
Confined space training

 

[moXJO]

Around $50 flat 11.5 hour days
A lot of companies are just hiring buses and driving the blokes to the next shut a few hours away

Good if you're a young guy. Fast way of saving money when you're in the middle of nowhere working basically 12 days.
Crap for families.

 

[Humid]

Good if you're a young guy. Fast way of saving money when you're in the middle of nowhere working basically 12 days.
Crap for families.

Quite the opposite I work in a team of 12 and the youngest is 36
Usually divorced or kids grown up already

 

[moXJO]

Quite the opposite I work in a team of 12 and the youngest is 36
Usually divorced or kids grown up already

I don't know how you guys do it at that age. But if the responsibilities have left the house it must make it easier.

Do you find the isolation impacts on mental health on long stints?
I would get big jobs but furthest out I'd go is orange, dubbo and some midge blown town in qld. And we would generally smash those in 3 months tops.

I have too many kids though which was always a consideration.

 

[SirRumpole]

Is our government sleepwalking us into the next recession ?

International monetary fund authorities as well as our own Reserve Bank are calling for government stimulus to awaken the economy out of a coma, but they stubbornly stick to their surplus policies.

Having our taxpayers money in the bank is great for the government but it's not doing anything for the man in the street.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10...nchronised-slowdown-in-global-growth/11605662

 

[satanoperca]

Is our government sleepwalking us into the next recession ?

International monetary fund authorities as well as our own Reserve Bank are calling for government stimulus to awaken the economy out of a coma, but they stubbornly stick to their surplus policies.

Having our taxpayers money in the bank is great for the government but it's not doing anything for the man in the street.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10...nchronised-slowdown-in-global-growth/11605662

Are you suggesting that the govnuts go further into debt to try and stimulate a falling economy.

Govnuts debt 2009 $100B, 2019 >$500B. Think we have a problem Houston

Private debt is over the scales and GDP growth is crap.

Spending more is not going to fix the problem

 

[sptrawler]

Are you suggesting that the govnuts go further into debt to try and stimulate a falling economy.

Govnuts debt 2009 $100B, 2019 >$500B. Think we have a problem Houston

Private debt is over the scales and GDP growth is crap.

Spending more is not going to fix the problem

Government spending doesn't seem to be the problem, consumers aren't spending, once the herd has started a stampede for the exits it is hard to turn them.
IMO there are three problems, one the press has been going on about how bad things are for so long, people are $hitting themselves. Two people have so much debt on board they are $shitting themselves. Three because of the first two problems all people are spending money on is comfort food and coffee's, because they are $hitting themselves.
I should have added four, people can't think what to spend on, because they have everything which also adds to peoples feeling of disappointment.

 

[SirRumpole]

Are you suggesting that the govnuts go further into debt to try and stimulate a falling economy.

Govnuts debt 2009 $100B, 2019 >$500B. Think we have a problem Houston

Private debt is over the scales and GDP growth is crap.

Spending more is not going to fix the problem

You said it yourself, the economy is failing.

Keeping doing what you are doing and expecting things to change is a sign of lunacy.

With interest rates so low there would be no better time to borrow money and invest it in something productive.

The best thing they could do imo is invest in energy infrastructure (not just electricity, but oil , gas and liquid fuels like ethanol) and get power prices down. High power prices are killing consumers and businesses and are making us one of the most un-competitive nations on earth.

But no, they would rather sit on a pile of money counting it each day like Scrooge.

Unbelievable.

 

[Humid]

I don't know how you guys do it at that age. But if the responsibilities have left the house it must make it easier.

Do you find the isolation impacts on mental health on long stints?
I would get big jobs but furthest out I'd go is orange, dubbo and some midge blown town in qld. And we would generally smash those in 3 months tops.

I have too many kids though which was always a consideration.

Compare it with sitting in traffic daily for hours and to work in Perth I would have to do 5x10 hour days and half day Saturday which leaves you with travel about 1 day off a week.
I’m casual atm doing about 10-12 days on followed by 7 off.

I see it the other way....I don’t know how you do it,meals cooked and your room cleaned
I give up the long stints after Wheatstone it fried me