WA solar homes will be the winners this election
05 September 2008
Climate-friendly homes will reap the rewards after the Western Australian Government and opposition made election commitments to introduce a gross-metered, solar power payment, says Australia’s leading sustainable living organisation the Alternative Technology Association.
Under the proposals, people who install rooftop solar systems, up to 10kW in size, will be paid 60 cents per kilowatt hour for the electricity they generate, until their solar system is paid off.
“We congratulate the WA government and the opposition for following the ACT’s lead and committing to one of Australia’s most progressive solar payment schemes, a gross feed-in tariff,” says Brad Shone, the ATA’s Energy Policy Manager.
Mr Shone says gross-metered feed-in tariffs—already in place worldwide—are the most appropriate means of paying for clean electricity.
“The net-metering schemes introduced in Queensland and South Australia, disadvantage stay-at-home families who use energy during the day, and don’t export excess power back to the main grid.”
“The ACT and Western Australia will have world class solar feed-in tariff legislation, and we are now looking to the federal government to keep their election promise and ensure all Australian families have access to a similar scheme.”
Mr Shone says the federal government’s newly released Garnaut Draft Report recommends that paying solar homes for all the electricity their systems generate (so called gross metering), is the most appropriate means of paying for clean power.
“Investing in rooftop solar is not just about the feel good factor; solar homes benefit the entire community.”
“Rooftop power generation reduces the strain on our already over stretched power supply network,” says Mr Shone.
Media enquiries:
Bojun Chiswell – ATA Media Manager on (03) 9631 5409 or bojun@ata.org.au
