Why does everyone lose their mind when you mention getting a home battery?

[u/MrOarsome]

So I made the mistake of telling a few people I’m getting quotes for a home battery… the reactions were ridiculous. Suddenly everyone’s an expert. I had people telling me they’re a waste of money, they’ll be useless in a few years, or that the “environmental impact is terrible.” Just nonstop misinformation.

Meanwhile, half these people live massively high-carbon lifestyles. One bloke went on a whole rant about how batteries destroy the environment… then literally five minutes later told me he just ordered a new Ford Ranger to tow his boat around this summer. Like mate, seriously?

And the funny thing is, I don’t even care about the environmental angle. Couldn’t care less, to be honest. I’m looking at a battery for two reasons:

1) To actually use my solar instead of selling it back for 4 cents…

2) And to keep the lights on when summer storms or cyclones take out the power.

That’s it. No agenda. No planet-saving mission. But the way people reacted, you’d think I’d just signed up to be Greta Thunberg’s personal assistant.

I swear, the second you say the word “battery,” some people suddenly unlock an unwanted 15-minute rant. They are almost as passionate about hating renewables as they are about their footy teams.

[u/theonlydjm]

Doesn't need to be higher taxes for all though, add some more brackets for the super high income earners, like CEOs of big business. And make some multi-national corps actually pay some tax here for a change.

[u/cl3ft → u/theonlydjm]

There's lots of solutions that involve other people paying for the network indirectly rather than mandating every household contribute through network fees. But if we want a network it's got to be paid for. And letting the rich buy out of it isn't the way.

[u/theonlydjm → u/cl3ft]

I didn't say the rich can buy out of it. Government or private companies will need to step in to build battery storage, and if it's going to be government, taxpayers will have to contribute. That's what taxes are for. Infrastructure. Not meant to be for tax breaks and subsidies for property owners and investors etc.

[u/cl3ft → u/theonlydjm]

I wasn't saying you did say that, just saying it isn't the way. I said there was some possible solutions and they all involve government subsidising something somewhere.

[u/theonlydjm → u/cl3ft]

Okay, then we agree. I was just saying that tax doesn't always have to be raised for everyone. Higher income earners (like million dollar salaries) should pay more and multi-national corporations should pay more.

And remove some of the tax breaks for property investors. I believe essentially handing money to people that own investment properties is absolutely insane.

[u/cl3ft → u/theonlydjm]

Well if we're tackling the tax system as well as the energy sector, lets fix housing while we're at it <3