Summaries - Australian Financial Review
13 August 2011
With major consumer incentives set to expire, the Victorian government is coming under pressure to reveal how it will support the state's solar industry. The previous Labor government started a policy whereby small businesses and households that install solar panels gain a premium tariff from power companies for electricity they feed into the grid over and above power used in their premises. However, the premium rate covers only the first 100 MWs of capacity installed in the state. Energy Minister Michael O'Brien says the cap for installed capacity under the premium feed-in tariff is likely to be met in late 2011.
The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission report on tariff arrangements is expected in 2012. Solar Shop is Australia's biggest photo-voltaic solar panel provider and its chief executive Tony Thornton says the government needs to explain an interim policy plan urgently before the expiration of the cap as the solar industry was in trouble around the country. The view of Clean Energy Council policy director Russell Marsh is that a higher rate of 40 cents was probably needed, while Greens MP Greg Barker called on Mr O'Brien to release more information over the cost of the incentive package. Lily D'Ambrosio, the opposition energy spokeswoman, says the government has to end uncertainty in the industry.
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