The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Draft Statement of Approach – AER price comparator website (the Draft Approach).

ATA supports the AER’s decision to include an option for consumers with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to compare solar offers in the Draft Approach (section 3.1.2).

However more information is required to ascertain whether this approach will result in a website that allows the direct comparison of feed-in tariff offers along with their associated retail electricity offers (i.e. for electricity consumption or ‘import’).

Click here to view the submission: ATA Submission – Statement of Approach – AER Price Comparator – Final 011211

ATA welcomes the opportunity to submit a response to the AEMC’s Approach Paper on Energy Market Arrangements for Electric and Natural Gas Vehicles.

The ATA has two member branches (in Melbourne and Geelong) that are specifically devoted to EVs including developments in EV technology; electric vehicle conversions and the promotion of EV uptake. This submission has been informed by ATA members with specific knowledge in this field.

Click here to view the content of this submission: ATA Submission – AEMC NEM Arrangements for EVs – Final 281011 v1.0

We write regarding the Victorian Government’s Transitional Feed-in Tariff (TFiT) policy. The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) is concerned that the TFiT, as designed, will not achieve the Victorian Government’s stated policy objective of providing system payback for most Victorian solar consumers of 10 years or less.

ATA provides an ‘independent’ consumer advice role, both to our members and to the Victorian public more broadly. As we are not funded by, and do not have direct links with industry or government, the ATA is a trusted source of advice for our membership and the general public in regards to the economics and environmental benefits of energy technologies. A key specialist area of the ATA’s in this regard is financial modelling of the economics of solar investment.

Click here to view the ATA’s submission: TFiT Letter Min – 171011 Final v1.0

Residential Buildings Mandatory Disclosure is a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) proposal.

The COAG has agreed that all governments will ensure that regulatory processes in their jurisdiction are consistent with the principles of Best Practice Regulation. These principles are outlined below and apply to decisions of COAG, Ministerial Councils and intergovernmental standard-setting bodies (including bodies established by statute, or administratively by government, to deal with national regulatory problem).

Click here to view the ATA’s submission: ATA Submission – Residential Mandatory Disclosure – Final 120911 v1.0

And Click here to view the adendum to the submission:ATA Submission – Residential Mandatory Disclosure – addendum

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the AER price comparator website – Issues paper (the Issues Paper).

The ATA engages closely with its members on a diverse number of issues including feed-in and consumption tariffs, smart meters, retailer and distributor concerns, and renewable energy policy. The organisation has developed a refined understanding of consumers’ attitudes towards energy through dialogue with its members and, using this information, has been significant contributor to the energy policy debate at both the Federal and State level.

This submission has been directly informed by feedback from ATA’s Energy Policy Reference Group, a group of ATA members interested in energy-related policy processes and submissions.

Click here to view the submission: ATA Submission – AER Price Comparator Website – Final 280811 v1.3

Victoria has an opportunity to take a continuing leadership role nationally with respect to sustainability. The most effective way of demonstrating this leadership is through the establishment of ambitious goals and a strong sustainability agency that will set Victoria apart from other states and territories in the race to develop a sustainable low carbon, zero waste economy.

ATA’s experience of working with Sustainability Victoria (SV) has been positive, with SV displaying a strong focus on innovation in programs, technologies and governance.

The Victorian Government needs an outwardly focused “one stop shop” which can
offer advice and support to households, communities and businesses and direct
Victorians to the right sources of advice, support and programs, and SV is ideally
placed to provide this role.

Click here to download ATA’s submission.

The NSW Government are planning to retrospectively change Legislation on the solar feed in tariff rate for 120,000 NSW (Solar Bonus Scheme) households from 60c kW/h to 40c kW/h from 1st July.

We believe this is completely unjust, totally unwarranted and potentially unlawful. We encourage you to support our fight to repeal these changes by using these facts to lobby your local Members of Parliament with consistent messages, engaging with effected friends, family and colleagues to stand up for their rights, contacting media and using social networking to spread the word.

Click here to view the submission: NSW Solar facts v2

ATA understands well the critical issues related to feed-in tariff design, and in particular the cost impost levied across all electricity consumers and specifically on low income households. ATA believes that feed-in tariff schemes across the country are broadly at a point where they can no longer seek to cost recover from the lowest income earners in our society.

Within that context however, ATA believes that there is significant opportunity for the extension of feed-in tariffs in most states, including in South Australia.

Click here to view the submission: SA FiT letter & Model 170511 v1.0 Minister

At the National Consumers Roundtable on Energy, held in Melbourne 10-11 March 2011, participating consumer, social welfare and environmental organisations collectively raised three core areas of concern for consumers including; energy affordability, demand side participation and community engagement and education on energy issues.

We believe these issues need to be central elements of the current government’s energy agenda:
- Energy Affordability
- Demand Side Engagement
- Community engagement and education on energy issues

Click here to view the submission: Briefing note – Submission to Minister Ferguson March 2011 v1.0

The Value of Customer Reliability (VCR) is a numerical parameter of significant potential use in the operation, planning
and regulation of electricity systems. VCR represents the dollar value that customers place on the reliable supply of
electricity – an indicator of customers’ willingness to pay for not having supply interrupted.

Click here to view the submission: AEMO VCR Submission FINAL