Getting a higher feed-in tariff from your electricity retailer looks great on paper, but it does not necessarily mean that you will save more money on your electricity bills. We’ve taken […]
Search Results for: RET
Introducing a (free) tool that allows solar homes to meaningfully compare retail electricity plans
Solar PV system owners – generally speaking – do not like their electricity retailers. Maybe it’s just the sense of independence they get from generating a portion of their own […]
The end of bill shock? Opower on how they can help your electricity retailer help you help yourself
Opower is a specialist technology provider for utilities promising to usher in a new era of electricity retailer-customer relationships. Their ‘customer engagement platform’ allows retail electricity customers to have an unprecedented […]
Meet Mojo Power: The electricity retailer that wants you to buy less energy
Imagine if your electricity retailer did not see a profit when you use more electricity. How would your relationship be different? While it may sound like a fantasy to an […]
NSW retail electricity prices face a hike as networks fight to reverse recent cuts
Australia’s retail electricity rates could be on the rise again as networks push back against reductions introduced by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) last year. The cuts were a welcome […]
Queensland Productivity Commission report ignores benefits, emphasises costs of QRET
A new study from the Queensland Productivity Commission has estimated the state’s renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2050 will cost $10.8 billion in subsidies, and has advised […]
SMA introduces inverter suited for Powerwall retrofits
Inverter manufacturer SMA has introduced a simple but sophisticated inverter that works with Tesla’s Powerwall and other high-voltage battery banks. The company’s new ‘Sunny Boy Storage’ is a single-phase battery […]
Telstra to enter arena as electricity retailer offering solar + storage
Australian telecommunications giant Telstra is taking on the nation’s major power utilites, with plans to roll out solar and battery storage technologies, and offer energy management services to millions of […]
Queensland government will not retroactively cut solar feed-in tariff payments
A proposal to make retrospective cuts to Queensland’s Solar Bonus Scheme has been ruled out by the state government, immediately after it was recommended in a report into driving down […]
The cost, productivity & return on investment for 2kW solar panel systems.
How much does a 2kW solar system cost, how much energy can you expect it to produce, and what sort of a financial return will a home see on a […]
South Australia’s Retailer Feed-in Tariff to increase to 6.8c/kWh (but does it really matter?)
South Australia‘s Retailer Feed-in Tariff (RFiT) will increase from the 2015 rate of 5.3c/kWh to 6.8c/kWh for the duration of 2016, according to a report from the Essential Services Commission […]
Diamond Energy: Australia’s solar power-friendly electricity retailer
Diamond Energy is an electricity retailer with extensive experience servicing customers who have solar panels or are thinking about going solar. The company has helped thousands of customers in Victoria, […]
Proposed changes to SA retail tariffs could have dire implications for rooftop solar uptake
The uptake of rooftop solar in South Australia could be halved over the next five years if a change in the state’s electricity tariffs proposed by SA Power Networks is […]
3.8GW renewables capacity required to avoid RET shortfall
Some 3,800MW of renewable energy capacity will need to be committed in Australia within the next 12 months if a shortfall in the renewable energy target is to be avoided, […]
New device from Latronics makes solar storage retrofits quick and easy
Australian inverter and power electronics maker Latronic Sunpower has introduced a device that will make it easy for homes and businesses to retroactively install battery storage onto most existing grid-connected solar PV […]
Vic Labor to introduce legislation to prevent retailer discrimination against solar homes
Victoria’s Labor government has announced new legislation that will prevent electricity retailers from refusing discounts to households with rooftop solar arrays. Victoria energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced the move on […]
As retailers & regulators seek to protect revenues, next major battleground for solar emerges
Australia’s solar industry looks to have a major battle on its hands, as pricing regulators and utilities take action to protect revenues and make rooftop solar less appealing for consumers. […]
Solar Choice brokers winning bid on 100kW system for prominent retail chain premises in western Sydney
Solar Choice Commercial has successfully brokered the winning bid on a 100kW solar installation for one of the western Sydney locations of a major national retail chain. The completion of […]
Could the Coalition turn RET towards large-scale solar?
In seeking to justify its push against wind energy, the creation of a “wind commissioner” and its dealing with the Senate cross-bench, the Coalition is trying to turn the renewable energy target […]
RET deal details remain unsettled with questions about wood waste and wind
Last-minute wrangling over the inclusion of native wood waste in the Renewable Energy Target is threatening to delay passage of the amended legislation through federal Parliament’s Upper House, as the […]
Aussie rooftop solar installations continue apace despite RET debacle
Australian households and businesses continue their rapid take-up of rooftop solar, even as new Renewable Energy Target legislation prepares to pass through the Senate, and despite the Abbott government’s latest […]
RET deal’s passage will unlock billions in solar & wind investment
More than $10 billion in solar and wind investment would be unlocked if legislation to amend Australia’s renewable energy target achieved quick passage through parliament, the Clean Energy Council has […]
RET deal back on hold as Labor walks out over continuation of 2-yearly reviews
Even as an agreement appears to be close at hand, talks have again broken down between Labor and the Coalition about the future of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET). Labor […]
NSW Premier axes renewable energy secretary role from government
The Australian renewable energy industry has reacted with confusion and concern to the decision of newly reelected NSW premier Mike Baird to eliminate the portfolio of parliamentary secretary for renewable […]
Coalition says cross-bench senators votes could help them weaken RET
The federal government will take renewable energy target negotiations to the cross-benchers in the Senate, after its “final” offer on the RET was rejected outright by Labor.In an interview with […]
LGC price spikes as government comes closer to RET deal
Comments from within the Abbott government suggesting an agreement on the RET could come as soon as Easter have helped push prices of large scale renewable energy certificates (LGCs) to […]
South Australians turn to solar amid rising retail electricity prices
In 2002, the South Australian government introduced sweeping reform in the electricity sector, allowing retailers to compete for customers. The basic idea was to give consumers a broader choice of electricity […]
Powershop aims to revolutionise retail electricity with interactive, data-on-demand approach to billing
Powershop, recently featured in an article in the Age, is an online electricity retailer that allows its customers to be active players in the retail electricity market in a way […]
Energy-storage startup Reposit Power could allow solar homes to bypass electricity retailers
Australian households could soon be able to bypass electricity retailers and buy and sell power on the market, via new technology set to be introduced by a Canberra-based company. Reposit […]
Stonewalled by Coalition, Labor abandons negotiations on RET
In a move described by the Australian Solar Council as ‘a sign of strength’, the Labor Party has walked out on negotiations over the future of the Renewable Energy Target […]
Coalition maintains position on ‘real 20%’ RET, but could small-scale solar take the hit instead?
Although it may to some degree be a matter of political posturing in order to ensure room for negotiations, the Coalition government is quite vocally holding firm on its call […]