Outer suburbs turn on to solar power

Age
9 May 2011, Page: 3

ELEVEN years ago, Anthony Borg and Judith Warren were urban fringe trailblazers among the first to buy and build at Caroline Springs, a then new housing development in Melbourne's outer west. Last month they upgraded the home they hope will see them through their retirement years with a 1.65 kW rooftop solar system. In their neighbourhood they are not alone. New data shows Victorians in outlying and traditionally working class suburbs are embracing solar power more enthusiastically than those in wealthier areas.

Epping, in the outer north, is Victoria's top solar suburb with panels installed on one in 16 houses. Other suburbs in the top 10 include Caroline Springs, Altona, Rowville and Sunshine. The postcode breakdown, compiled by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, challenges a frequent criticism that solar subsidies help the rich and leave the poor to bear increased electricity bills.

Mr Borg and Ms Warren spent about $6000 on solar to limit surging power costs and lessen their carbon footprint. "I reckon we should save a couple of hundred dollars [a quarter], but it depends on how the electricity company works it out for us", Mr Borg said. The proportion of households in wealthier suburbs that have taken up solar is below the state average.

"Tariffs and rebates are not all middle class welfare as they have been portrayed by some", said Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren. "In Victoria they have done a good job of leading many households to the conclusion that switching to solar makes economical sense as well as environmental sense".

The data comes as solar schemes face criticism. Energy market expert Rod Sims, an adviser to the federal government, believes they are an expensive and inefficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and should be phased out. Defenders of subsidies say they are necessary to develop a clean energy industry. The Baillieu government appears set to let the solar subsidy introduced by the Brumby government in 2009 lapse.

The scheme, a feed in tariff that pays households for power generated beyond what is used at home, has nearly reached its cap of 100 MWs of power generated. State Energy Minister Michael O'Brien has said there was no commitment to continue the scheme. Federally, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet last week said national solar subsidies would be reduced earlier than planned in response to skyrocketing power bills and an overheating renewable energy market.