I just heard on the news that the energy supply companies are going to add a tariff onto everyones electricity bills to pay for the GFIT that NSW has introduced for solar and wind power units.
A spokesman for the companies stated that it would be in the range of 90c to $1.50 per quarter for most domestic consumers.
A consumers spokesman claimed that this is a tax on the poor, to pay for the GFIT to the wealthy who can afford to install solar and wind generators.
The reply from a government spokesman was that the situation will be reviewed in two years time. Lets hope by that time that wise heads prevail and the GFIT stays as is, and the promise of the seven year lifespan of the deal remains.
Considering the price rises we will get from the general upward trend in electricity prices, the 90c-$1.50 sounds reasonable to me.
NSW Gross feed in tariff
(11 posts) (8 voices)-
Russell Moore
MemberPosted Sunday 3 Jan 2010 @ 9:26:33 pm from IP # -
fairsjk
MemberI have made a similar comment in the Whirlpool forums, reading all the comments on the papers website most people seem to have bought the papers sensationalist headline. It makes me so mad. Yes not everyone wins with the GFIT but hey the government is providing an interest free loan for 4 years so you cannot complain. I think if the paper did a survey on who has actually installed solar they would be very surprised. Well they don't really need to do they because it was means tested until July. Believe it or not some whingers are saying that the $1.50 will be too much for them to pay. Come on stop wasting your money on beer, cigs and the pokies and you will soon find the money. This nation is certainly giving the Poms a run for their money in the whinger stakes.
Posted Monday 4 Jan 2010 @ 10:50:34 am from IP # -
kalindriel
MemberI think that its easy to forget what it actually means to be poor. Very few people think that they are rich, but the bottom line is that if you actually have a house on which to install panels, you are certainly a very long way from actually being poor. Just because you have a mortgage doesnt mean you are poor. People who are really poor can never afford to actually buy a house. Also its easy to imagine poor people as lazy lumps who never save and fritter their money away on beer and plasma TVs, but I tend to think that if you believe or know that you will never amass enough wealth to grow more wealth, there is no incentive to try. I dont mean to say that all the hardworking home owners are just lucky to be comparatively wealthy, just that its easy to forget that unless you are born to the right family, you may have no hope of ever getting out of a rental or state housing. A family earning 99K per year (in line with the means test) is pretty wealthy compared to families living on the minimum wage.
Having said that, I cannot fathom how anyone could maintain an argument that a $10 annual rise in electricity costs to fund a levy supporting the FiT is too high a price to pay for the environmental benefits. Especially given that last July we were all slugged with a 20% rise, without the benefits.
Posted Thursday 7 Jan 2010 @ 12:21:58 am from IP # -
alfresco24
MemberThe PV rebate is very generous and combined with the FIT and home value increase it rewards those who can or choose to afford it disproportionately to those 20% of households who are live month to month and have to pay the GFIT.
It may be small fry at $1 per quarter (verified?) but that will increase regularly.
On principle IMHO the GFIT contribution should come out of state & federal general revenue.Posted Monday 11 Jan 2010 @ 11:26:53 am from IP # -
ghostgum
MemberMy view is that the money for the FIT should come from those who use electricity, rather than general revenue. Your contribution towards the FIT is then proportional to how much electricity you use, over which you have control within some limits.
But then it doesn't affect me personally in that I can afford to buy solar panels, and my electricity consumption is below average. Through some easy changes in behaviour, we've cut 2kWh per day from our electricity bill, which offsets the increases in electricity charges.Posted Monday 11 Jan 2010 @ 10:12:12 pm from IP # -
GJOESQ
MemberMy household already voluntarily pays an extra 5.5c per kWh will 100% Wind Energy from Origin. Fortunately, we reduced our daily usage to just 7.6 kWhs last quarter. I support charging households a levy on the amount of energy they use rather than a flat amount.
People who refuse to reduce their energy consumption and who won't buy PVs or wind turbines should pay a more accurate price for their currently heavily subsidised electricity supply. We've been paying too little for too long. Once the price rises to the level it should, PVs and wind turbines WILL become a viable hip picket nerve option.
Posted Tuesday 12 Jan 2010 @ 5:23:37 am from IP # -
Solgen
MemberI have a 1.7kW PV system which has been installed for 12 months. Energy Aust installed an electronic meter not long after the PV system was installed. I have been very pleased with the system and are about to double its size.
Now, I have just received a letter from EA advising me on how to changeover to the gross metering system. I have to arrange a suitably qualified electrician to get the meter from EA and install it, after which I have to advise EA of my bank account details or address for sending a cheque.
No problems with any of this, but the big surprise is that EA are paying 66c/kWh rather than the 60c/kWh as required by the regulations. I don't know why EA is being so generous and there was no time limit mentioned either, very mysterious.
The other interesting point was as discussed earlier on this forum, is that the max size is 10kW and there is no mention of the number of inverters installed.Posted Thursday 11 Mar 2010 @ 6:01:24 am from IP # -
Moose
MemberI have being trying to find out what happens at the end of the FIT period. Do you have to change metering back to a NET system? I only ask this because with gross metering system you pay for every kWh consumed, your grid connect system do not contribute to lowering your consumption.So at the end of the FIT scheme you may be left paying full price for your power with no income or benifit from have a grid connect system.
I may be leaving my system as a NET connected system. At least this will be of benifit when the FIT scheme finishes.
Posted Monday 15 Mar 2010 @ 1:01:44 am from IP # -
Russell Moore
MemberWhy would you not go with the GFIT? It seems to make no sense, with GFIT all of your solar output will be paid to you at the inflated GFIT rate of (NSW) 60c, and in my case at the moment all of the electricity I use will be charged at 17.75c ( at the current rate that is, this is certain to rise)
If I was to go with a net system, I would be lossing income from the system. Seems easy to me, or am I wrong?
Posted Monday 15 Mar 2010 @ 2:22:06 am from IP # -
Moose
MemberYes it would be a short term gain, as the shceme at present is only running for a maximum of 7yrs though it is reviewed in 2012.( what even at means? maybe ending?)
With time of use(TOU) metering(smart meters), peak cost is about 33 cent/ kWh between 2 & 8pm Mon to Fri. These costs are set to rise by 40% over the next few years and even higher if the ETS is passed.
So at the end of the GFIT you will have no benifit from your solar system with gross metering and be stuck with TOU metering at very high costs. I have been trying to clarify with Energy Australia what happens at the end of the GFIT period, even they don't know.
Posted Monday 15 Mar 2010 @ 9:52:59 am from IP # -
Russell Moore
MemberAll Integral Energy supplied was an identical meter to my 28 year old one, you know the one with a spinning disc and a set of dials to record consumption.The old meter is still there, with the new one happily spinning away, recording my solar power outflow into the grid. No sign of a 'smart' meter to record time of day use, well not yet!
Posted Monday 15 Mar 2010 @ 10:15:32 am from IP #