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Gross Feed-in Tariff
The Keneally government's inadequate gross feed-in tariff came into effect in January 2010.
The 60c/kWh tariff will be a gross tariff, however will only be availble for 7 years. This feature will see a boom / bust scenario in roof-top solar installations in NSW as homeowners will only be able to recoup their investment if they install their panels in the first three years of the scheme.
The scheme also fails to provide a mechanism to support community solar projects and leaves open a window for electricity retailers to avoid paying cash to customers in credit on their accounts.
The Greens are committed to improving the gross tariff to support clean energy jobs in NSW.
The NSW Feed-In legislation
The electricity feed-in tariff legislation (Solar Bonus Scheme) was passed in the parliament on 27 November 2009.
You can read the debate in parliament here
The Greens moved several amendments that would would have improved the scheme to increase the uptake of solar panels and reduce greenhouse emsissions and to create more clean energy jobs in NSW. These amendments included:
- extending the scheme until 2023, guaranteeing access to the tariff rate for seven years regardless of when in that time connection of solar panels was made, and
- Guaranteeing those generating a credit on thier account would be paid cash instead of a credit being held by the retailer.
This amendments were not supported by the government, opposition or other cross-bench members.
Since starting on 1 January 2010, the Solar Bonus scheme has been plagued with difficulties for customers, including some retailers planning to hold credits instead of paying cash for power generated, and high costs and delays for upgrading to new meters for those with pre-existing systems.
Read John's comments in the media about the operation of the Solar Bonus Scheme to date.
Further Background information:
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Read John's submission to the NSW Government's Solar feed-in tariff Taskforce date 12 January 2009
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Read the Greens NSW Climate Change and Energy Policy
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