No Need for Additional Solar Cuts by Climate Change Authority
The decision by the Federal Government on Friday to bring forward by six months reductions in support for household solar systems means that no further tampering of the solar market is needed under the current Renewable Energy Target (RET) review, says the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).
Damien Moyse, ATA’s Energy Policy Manager, says that whilst the Climate Change Authority has recently been deliberating over whether to apply specific measures to further reduce the size of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, the decision by the Government to bring forward the reduction of the solar multiplier to 1 January 2013 means that no additional reduction measures will be necessary.
“The Climate Change Authority have been considering extremely punitive and almost unworkable measures to further reduce the size of the small renewables market – despite this market costing electricity consumers less than 1% of average bills, after all costs and benefits are taken into account”, said Mr Moyse.
The Federal Government’s decision adds between $700 to $1,000 to the cost of an average solar system, thereby making it harder for those households and small business currently grappling with ever increasing electricity bills.
“The decision to bring forward the reduction in support for solar should mean that no additional punitive measures are required from the Climate Change Authority’s review of the RET. “
“At the end of the day, we are talking about a technology, given its time of generation, that actually reduces wholesale electricity prices for all consumers. This is something that as a nation we should be encouraging as much as possible.”
For comment: Damien Moyse, ATA energy policy manager: 0439 900 692
