Australian solar users avoid extra levy cost
The Clean Energy Council has congratulated the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) for moving away from the idea to levy an extra charge on solar power users, as revealed in today's electricity price determination.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said this was obviously very welcome news for the 750,000 Queenslanders who now live in a house with solar panels on the roof.
"The QCA's rigorous and comprehensive analysis of power price rises in Queensland has made it clear that renewable energy was a much smaller contributor to electricity bills than most other factors," Mr Green said.
"The QCA has confirmed that the cost of Australia's 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target and the Solar Bonus Scheme only makes up about 7 per cent of power bills. This compares with more than 46 per cent of bills that goes towards electricity poles and wires.
"When anyone installs an air-conditioner it costs everyone an estimated $7000 to pay for network upgrades, which is reflected in this component of our bills. This is the real source of higher electricity prices and should be the focus of more attention, rather than on Queensland solar households who are simply trying to avoid higher bills."
Mr Green said that despite claims that it was the rich who were benefiting from solar power, Queensland's top solar areas were Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Beenleigh.
"These are areas full of honest, hard-working people who are just trying to do the right thing," he said.
"While there are costs associated with the Solar Bonus Scheme, the industry has always argued for incentives to be reduced responsibly in line with the falling cost of solar technology, and an orderly transition when feed-in tariffs are changed.
"When the Queensland Solar Bonus Scheme was changed last year, a large number of people rushed to sign up in a short period of time. As a result, more than half of the state's solar capacity has been installed since the current government was elected.
"The energy market is changing, creating many complex issues that need constructive dialogue and effective collaboration, so that we get outcomes that work for all consumers "“ wherever they live."
