"That's no way to run a state or a country and the only way to make our electricity more affordable and more reliable for every Australian is for the government to get the heck out of the way."

Senator Bernardi's view is that regulation is the cause of the current dysfunction and volatility that passes for an energy market.

Because he does not subscribe to the science of man-made climate change, he sees no need to reduce emissions, and therefore, no need for any scheme at all, such as a Clean Energy Target being debated inside the Coalition.

Some, but not many, of his former colleagues hold the same view and think Australia should follow the United States and withdraw from the Paris climate accord under which Australia has pledged to lower its emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.

But for the majority in the Coalition, the size of which is arguable, if Australia is to meet its Paris targets, it needs a mechanism such as a CET.

And that, over time, will encourage the use of renewable energy, just like Senator Bernardi's rooftop.

In his report, Chief Scientist Alan Finkel cited CSIRO modelling which forecast home solar panels and batteries are expected to account for more than $200 billion on investment over the next 33 years, meaning households and other customer-owned generators will meet 30 to 45 per cent of Australia's electricity needs by 2050.