Based on a review by the Office of Energy, the Western Australia government has decided to reduce the state’s solar feed-in tariff rate from 40c/kWh to 20c/kWh. The lower rate will be applicable to feed-in tariff applications that are submitted from 1 July 2011, therefore in order to be eligible for the 40c rate, applications must be submitted by 30 June, 2011. Contact Solar Choice for a free quote comparison for installers in your area, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.
Existing customers on the 40c tariff will not be affected by the changes to the scheme. Even new customers who apply after the 30 June deadline will temporarily be eligible for the 40c/kWh tariff, but only until electricity providers can adjust their payment systems (by no later than 9 December 2011). After this point, customers will receive the 20c tariff.
New renewable energy system owners will be assessed for the 40c/kWh rate if:
- their complete and correct application forms are received by their electricity retailer (Synergy or Horizon Power) by 30 June 2011; and
- their renewable energy system and necessary metering equipment is installed and connected to the electricity grid by 30 September 2011.
The new 20c feed-in tariff will also be valid for a period of 10 years from commencement of feed-in agreements with solar power system owners.
The 20c scheme will be capped at 150MW of capacity (one solar system for a residence is typically 1.5 – 3kW, or 0.0015 – 0.003MW).
The Office of Energy cited the fact that the cost of the average residential solar power system has fallen by almost half in the last 12 months; i.e. solar power is becoming more affordable even without government support.
The WA announcement comes after a spate of recent alterations to solar power incentive policies on the federal and state levels, including a retroactive reduction of the NSW feed-in tariff from 60c/kWh to 40c/kWh for those already participating in the scheme.
Solar Choice will provide further details about the WA scheme as well as changes to other state and federal incentives as they become available. Please keep an eye on our blog or follow us on twitter by clicking the link below.
© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
Sources and links:
WA Office of Energy: Changes to Feed-in Tariff Scheme
Synergy Energy: Feed-in Tariff
He is now the communications manager for energy technology startup SwitchDin, but remains an occasional contributor to the Solar Choice blog.
James lives in Newcastle in a house with a weird solar system.
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