Of interest to many SOS members, though not within our core of activities, was the announcement of the new Victorian Government 60 cent per KW energy rebate for solar cells.
If it looks too good to be true – that’s because it isn’t!. The rebate is only for your NET electricity consumption – ie, you have to make MORE power than you consume in your house over a day. The maximum size system you’re allowed to have is 2KW – and only the excess gets the $0.60 rebate!
Unless you have a near empty house, this just isn’t going to happen..
The guys at energy matters have written a good piece on this –
Sorry to get political again, but on the 6th May 2008 the Victorian government announced it’s new budget. At a glance it seems to be good for solar, but when you crunch the numbers it is the most elaborate green wash ever conducted in Australia. This feed in tariff has been deliberately designed to feature in press releases and speeches, but in actual fact does nothing to help ordinary Victorians to be able to go solar.
So when you hear and see the Premier bask in his green credentials please consider that John Brumby is no solar leader, but rather has created an elaborate con on anyone interested in seeing something done about climate change. The coal and nuclear industry must breath a sigh of relief as their lobbying effort have fallen on fertile ground with this Labor Government.
At $0.60 per kWh, the proposed feed-in tariff appears to be the highest in the country, but very few people will ever get paid for the power they produce.
The average Australian household consumption is 16kWh a day. In Victoria, we get an average of about 4.1 hours of sun. The maximum system size to be eligible for the feed-in tariff is 2kW
This means the largest eligible system will produce an annual average of 8.2kWh per day, about half of an average house’s daily energy requirements. Given that you only get paid for excess power produced, very very few people will ever get paid for the power they produce.
With the exception of the American state of Texas, Australia is the only country considering a net feed-in tariff. Even China has better feed-in tariffs than Australia.
The Victorian government actions border on harming the environment, since they give people the impression that the goverment is doing something to address climate change, when in reality it is doing nothing!
We need to TAKE URGENT ACTION NOW to ensure Victoria’s solar future.
Join us from 8.30am-9.30am sharp on the steps of Parliament House TOMORROW Thursday 8th May to tell Premier John Brumby and the Victorian Government that we want a REAL Feed-In Tariff for Victoria’s solar future. We need your help to get at least 200 people along, so bring your friends, bring your placards and let the Politicians know what we want.
Where: Steps of Parliament House, top of Bourke St
When: 8.30am-9.30am, Thursday 8th May 2008
Who: Anyone who loves solar power or hates climate change
More information: Victoria McKenzie-McHarg at Environment Victoria: 03 9341 8112
Rally organised by Environment Victoria, Alternative Technology Association, Moreland Energy Foundation and Friends of the Earth.
For those of you who can’t make it to the rally, register your disgust with the following MPs:
Premier Email: john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
Deputy Premier Email: rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au
Environment Minister Email: gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au
Energy Minister Email: peter.batchelor@parliament.vic.gov.au
Education Minister Email: bronwyn.pike@parliament.vic.gov.au
Industry minister Email: theo.theophanous@parliament.vic.gov.au
Planning Minister Email: justin.madden@parliament.vic.gov.au
Treasurer Email: john.lenders@parliament.vic.gov.au
Small Business Minister Email: joe.helper@parliament.vic.gov.au
Regional and Rural minister Email: jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
Health Minister Email: daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
Police Minister Email: bob.cameron@parliament.vic.gov.au
Finanace minister Email: timothy.holding@parliament.vic.gov.au
Public Minister Email: lynne.kosky@parliament.vic.gov.au
Sport Minister Email: james.merlino@parliament.vic.gov.au
Childrens Minister Email: maxine.morand@parliament.vic.gov.au
Community Services Minister Email: lisa.neville@parliament.vic.gov.au
Roads and ports Minisrter Email: tim.pallas@parliament.vic.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Minister Email: tony.robinson@parliament.vic.gov.au
Housing LGA Minister Email: richard.wynne@parliament.vic.gov.au
Please also pass this newsletter onto your friends, so that they can contact the government too!
Kind regards,
Markus Lambert
Community Relations Manager
Energy Matters
www.energymatters.com.au