FAQ'S
We’ve been getting heaps of questions, some of them about us, but most are trying to understand more about Australia’s energy future. We love that you’re all so interested; please keep it coming.
Here are the most common questions you’ve been asking us, with straight-up answers that cut through the usual political noise.
If you’ve got other questions, feel free to drop us a line!
Are you affiliated with any political party?
Not at all! We’re focused on helping regular Australians understand their energy options and have a new conversation about them. High power bills affect everyone, no matter what they believe or who they vote for.
What if I spot a mistake?
Hey, we’re all human! If you see something that looks wrong, let us know through our website. We’ll check it out and fix it if we get something wrong.
I really like your ads!
We do, too. Even if they are a bit cheeky, they provide Australians with a new way to discuss energy and the tough choices we’ll have to make regarding our affordable energy future.
I don't like your ads!
We’re sorry to hear that. Most people have been writing to say nice things. But we know energy is a topic people feel strongly about, and we respect that. If you’ve spotted something specific that you think is wrong, let us know, and we’ll look into it.
What are the costs associated with solar and wind energy compared to nuclear, specifically regarding transmission lines and decommissioning?
The International Energy Agency has shown that wind and solar are the cheapest forms of new energy in every country, and Australia, with our abundant sunshine, is no exception.
The CSIRO publishes a regular report comparing the cost of different technologies and has repeatedly found that wind and solar are the cheapest options for building new electricity generation – even once the ‘integration costs’ of new transmission and storage are factored in.
While some new transmission lines will be required to connect our most sunny and windy regions to the major cities where most power is needed, these are one-off developments that will act as the backbone of the energy system for generations to come.
As renewable energy and storage technologies improve, their costs decrease, increasing their cost advantage over nuclear, coal and gas.
What about the environmental impact of renewables?
This is a good one! Renewables are key to reducing emissions, but like any energy source, they come with trade-offs. While wind turbines and solar panels produce no pollution, energy is required to produce them, and some new infrastructure (such as transmission lines and energy storage) may be required to support them. Like all generation sources, making and installing renewables requires land, materials, and investment.
Most of the transmission required for coal and gas generators was built decades ago, but the transmission lines supporting renewables are being built now – making them much more noticeable. Building new transmission lines can impact communities and the environment, as can solar and wind farms – though it is now common for solar and wind farms to be built in collaboration with farmers and for cattle and sheep to continue grazing around the turbines and panels.
Once they are built, solar and wind have minimal ongoing environmental impact – unlike thermal generators, which require continued mining to provide a steady supply of coal, gas or uranium.
Why isn't nuclear power happening in Australia?
It is illegal, but even if that were to change, there would be no private sector interest in investing the billions of dollars it would take to build power plants—private investors just don’t think it’s a good bet. Even Australia’s biggest power companies, like AGL, say nuclear power doesn’t make sense here. They all agree it’s too expensive and would take too long to build. They’re looking at other options that make more sense. The only way nuclear power might happen in Australia is with government funding. That doesn’t sound like it will turn out well for home energy bills or taxes.
What are the challenges with nuclear energy?
The most significant issues are time and money. Nuclear plants take decades to build and usually cost much more than planned. Most Aussies can’t wait until the 2040s for affordable power – and international experience shows that these massive projects are unlikely to deliver affordable power even if they are eventually completed.
How do you make sure your ads are truthful?
Everything we say comes from solid, independent sources like CSIRO, IEEFA, and expert analysis. When we make a claim, we’ve done our homework – whether it’s about costs, timeframes, or impacts. We’re happy to point you to the source of any fact we use because we believe transparency helps everyone make better decisions about our energy future.
Why are energy prices rising? Is it because of all the renewables?
The price rises have a few causes. Our old coal power stations are breaking down more often and often when we need them most. Global events like the war in Ukraine have sent coal and gas prices through the roof, increasing the cost of electricity produced using those sources. Every time the system needs gas, it drives the price through the roof, and we will keep relying on gas until we build enough renewables, transmission and (most importantly) storage to cover the evening peak, the winter lull, and any unplanned coal outages. Renewables are helping keep prices down when they’re running – they’re now our cheapest power source. But yes, we need to be upfront that building new transmission lines and storage to make renewables work reliably costs money, even though it saves money in the long run.
Why did you say unkind things about coal?
Every energy source has strengths and challenges—that’s just reality. Our job isn’t to pick favourites but to help Aussies understand what each option means for their bills and future.
Why did you say unkind things about nuclear power?
We’re just trying to tell it how it is. We’re not here to advocate for or against any particular energy source—they all have ups and downs. Our focus is on having honest conversations about what each option would mean for Australian families, both good and bad.
Why did you say unkind things about renewables?
Hey, we’re not here to trash-talk any energy source. Every option has good points and tricky bits. We just want honest conversations about what works best for Australia, examining each option’s actual cost and benefit.