[Greens-Media] Tebbutt's solar tariff must pay for all the power generated

[John Kaye]

Tebbutt's solar tariff must pay for all the power generated

Media release: 8 November 2008

The Rees government is at last making the right moves on paying households for the electricity from rooftop solar panels but the devil is in the detail, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "NSW is the last state to progress towards feed-in laws to help pay for small scale renewable energy systems.

"It is essential that the tariffs pay the premium price for all the electricity generated from the panels, not just the amount sent to the grid after powering household appliances.

"Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt's announcement that the state will push ahead with their own scheme if the federal government fails to act is welcome news after years of neglect.

"A well designed tariff will put rooftop solar within the reach of many households and small businesses and provide a much-needed boost to this state's manufacturing and installation businesses.

"However a scheme that fails to pay for all the power generated would be a step backwards.

"With a typical system costing up to $20,000 banks providing finance will be looking for a steady and predictable income stream to pay for the up-front investment.

"So-called net tariffs that meter only the power fed back into the grid, after deducting the energy used by fridges, washing machines, lights and other appliances, will create a lot of uncertainty and make the banks very nervous.

"If the Rees government really has had a conversion to renewable energy, they will opt for a gross tariff that bills customers for their household consumption and separately pays the premium price for all the electricity generated by the panels.

"If they want to offer more than lip service to the thousands of jobs that the solar industry offers to NSW, they will make sure that households can easily get bank financing for their systems by legislating for gross tariffs," Dr Kaye said. 

For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455