Monday 30 November 2009

Solar plan falls short of promise

Courier Mail
Friday 27/11/2009 Page: 5

ONLY two suppliers have joined the State government's program to deliver 200,000 discounted solar hot water systems as doubts continue over whether it can fully deliver on an election promise.

Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson revealed yesterday that 110 systems would be installed in homes by the end of this week and 850 customers had now been allocated to a supplier, well short of the 40,000 it had initially hoped to install in the first year of a three-year plan. A second company, Ecovation, has now joined the program to supply the systems for $500 or $100 for pensioners.

But when asked if the Government was still on track to deliver on its election promise, Mr Robertson indicated the program was subject to the Commonwealth retaining its solar hot water rebate and more suppliers agreeing to join the scheme. Opposition MP Jeff Seeney said homeowners should not "hold your breath" waiting for their systems to be installed.

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