Energy crisis-- Australia

The Federal government is begging Queenslanders tonight to take it easy,  as power shortage is a reality today. The headlines read, "Queenslanders urged to turn down heaters as state braces for power outages." Why is that? The Australian Energy Market Operator has issued an alert urging residents to conserve power. Here’s what you need to know. Seven News reports the reason. "as electricity generators dial back their output in response to a cap on wholesale prices."

Money is the bottom line. 

The operator has imposed a cap on electricity spot prices of $300 per megawatt after seven consecutive days of surging wholesale prices. “As a consequence of the administered price cap in Queensland, AEMO has seen generation bids reduce,” AMEO said in a statement.

Tonight it's about the Sunshine State, tomorrow it's probably going to be the NSW turn. I'm sure National Cabinet will discuss this on Friday, but what will we do tomorrow when the temperature is set to hit 0 (32 for you who speak only Fahrenheit)?

I remember 1973 and again 1979 when oil embargoes from certain countries caused long lines at the petrol stations, with only alternate day fill-ups allowed and no hope of these moments in time passing anytime soon. They did pass. We did make it through, but not without tightening our belts. When Jimmy Carter was president of the US, he urged Americans to turn their thermostats in our homes down to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, in January 1977. January. That's winter! 65 for non-Americans is 18.3 Celsius. That's tough in winter!  The inflation reality hit hardest, as the US went into +20% inflation during his term and as a result, he handily lost the election in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Read this about the change of temperature. 

John Lindsay was a member of the US House of Representatives from New York who then ran and won the NYC mayoral race twice in the 1960s. He had just won his first race there when 9 November 1965 brought his first major catastrophe and problem-to-solve. It was a blackout that affected 800,000 people in the subway system alone. There were no mobile phones and people were trapped in elevators and public buildings not only in New York, but all the way to Boston and Toronto, Canada.  Read the whole event's write up while they were looking back in 2015 here. 

Blackouts happen, 

Winter comes and usually goes. 

So for now, let's remind ourselves to lower the thermostat (maybe not 18, but 19 is fine), and guard the energy use of lights and appliances when we don't really need them. Run the dishwasher less often. Turn off the television sometime. Read a bit more. Use candles. I know, it sounds caveman, but hey, they made it without reverse cycle air-cons, you know?

Oh, one more thing. this from Rabbi Saul in his letter he wrote to some of his disciples in a town named Ephesus. "To Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us"

You see the word "works" is the Greek word energeo (or Energizes) God energizes us by his power. That's really something we all need just about now. Power to love. Power to care. Power to help our neighbour. Power to listen to the plights and words of those nearby. God will do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we could ask or even think. How? By his power that energizes us. 

Tonight I'm going to stay warm in a robe and under an extra blanket. I won't be complaining about state or federal government not doing enough. Blackouts happen. Winter comes and usually goes. 

I want to energize those around me with the power of the God of love. Will you join me?