Power of good in solar energy tariff scheme - The ACT is positioned to become the solar capital of Australia.

Canberra Times
Wednesday 11/2/2009 Page: 8

During a launch at the All Saints Anglican Church in Ainslie yesterday, Energy Minister Simon Corbell unveiled details of stage one of the ACT's Electricity feed-in tariff Scheme, which will allow households and commercial building owners to be paid for the solar energy they generate. According to Mr Corbell, the scheme is the most generous feed-in tariff in the country, paying households and small businesses for each unit of renewable energy they produce.

Other states merely plan to pay participants for surplus energy produced. Under the scheme, eligible parties with renewable energy generation of up to a 30 kW capacity will be eligible for the tariff. Systems up to 10kw will be paid 50.05c per kW hour, while systems between 10kw and 30kw will receive a rate of 40.04c per kwh. Powering up on March 1, Mr Corbell said the plan would place the ACT at the forefront of a new era solar generation.

"Last year the ACT Labor Government introduced the Electricity Feed-in Act, today I am announcing a series of amendments to the Act to clarify its operation and allow it to commence for households and commercial buildings," Mr Corbell said. "This will lead to a major uptake in the installation of renewable energy generation on households and commercial buildings. I am pleased to announce that renewable generators will be paid 50.05c per kW hour exclusive of GST.

"This is 3.88 times the calculated normal cost of electricity." Mr Corbell said electricity bills across the ACT would have a small amount added to them to cover the cost of the scheme. Households looking to take advantage of the project would be expected to enter a contract with their energy provider for a period of 20 years and it is estimated the cost to install solar systems could be recouped within 10 years.

Mr Corbell expected stage two of the scheme to be announced in June and said it would allow for the introduction of the tariff for larger scale generation. The Government would assess a number of issues, including the financial impact on ACT electrical consumers and the appropriate price to apply to different scales of generation.

More information from the ACT Department of Energy on 6207 5589.