Government Media Releases
Consumer Buying Giude
NATIONAL: Australia’s peak clean energy body today launched a guide to help householders make an informed choice when buying solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said the guide will help consumers find the right system to suit their needs. 

“There are now more than 100,000 solar PV systems installed across Australia and the range of solar companies, installers and products is mind-boggling,” he said.

“Although the solar industry has an excellent safety record, being an informed consumer has never been more important. 

“The guide is a general introduction to solar PV systems. It includes a list of sensible questions to ask when inquiring about solar power to ensure the installer and type of panel you choose is up to scratch,” Mr Marsh said.  

The solar industry has grown very quickly over the last couple of years and the solar energy installed across Australia avoids more than 260,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year – the equivalent of taking around 60,000 cars off the road. 

The Clean Energy Council runs an accreditation program for solar PV designers and installers to ensure a high standard of installation quality. To qualify for Federal Government subsidies, solar PV systems must be signed off by an accredited professional who has completed training in the design and installation of solar power systems. 

Mr Marsh said there were more than 2000 accredited installers across Australia and the system had helped the industry maintain a high standard over the last decade during a period of remarkable growth.

The new consumer guide to buying solar panels and a list of accredited installers can be found here.
 
Brumby Shows Solar Flair

VICTORIA: Today’s announcement by the Brumby Government shows the Premier is serious about solar power in Victoria, according to the clean energy industry.

Premier John Brumby announced that five per cent of the state’s electricity would come from solar power by 2020, through incentives encouraging industrial solar power stations and medium-sized commercial installations in places such as the roofs of shopping centres.   

Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said the policy should deliver investment and jobs in regional Victoria, develop emerging industries and help reduce the state’s greenhouse emissions.

“Mr Brumby is to be congratulated for demonstrating real leadership in developing a world-class renewable energy industry in Victoria,” he said.

Victorian households are already able to access support for installing solar power, and it’s important that businesses are encouraged to embrace the technology to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Industrial scale solar power stations have real potential to play a major part in Australia’s energy future and measures like this are crucial to realizing that potential,” said Mr Warren.

“It should help companies gain the foothold they need in the Australian market to start generating solar energy at the lowest cost.

“Initiatives like this will help to make Victoria a preferred destination for clean energy investors and help us to leverage our world-class renewable energy resources,” he said.

The largest solar power station in Australia is currently a 1 MW facility at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
 
Enhanced Safety Rules for Solar

Companies seeking to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels under the Government’s Renewable Energy Target will be subject to tougher safety and compliance requirements from today, the Government has announced.

 

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Penny Wong, said new regulations for the RET – signed by the Governor-General on 15 June 2010 - will commence today.

 

The regulations include:

  • To be eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), installations must now comply with state and territory regulations for siting panels and building codes, including for panel mountings and connection;
  • Installers must be both Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited and licensed electricians, with the exception of some remote non-grid connections; and
  • Requiring installers of solar panels to retain documentation of how they have met the above requirements.

The requirement to be a licensed electrician, which is already part of the CEC accreditation requirements, will now be an explicit requirement for the RET and its compliance regime. If these requirements are not met, installers will face penalties such as fines, injunctions, ineligibility to create RECs or criminal charges.

 

"Solar panels allow householders to play their part in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions," Senator Wong said.

 

"The government takes safety for solar PV very seriously and these additional measures will further strengthen safety arrangements for solar panels supported by the Renewable Energy Target."

 

Senator Wong said the enhanced RET, currently before the Senate, also includes a number of new compliance measures such as civil penalties, tougher financial penalties and more stringent documentation requirements to prove compliance. The RET Bills were introduced on 12 May 2010 and the Government is committed to passage of the legislation before Parliament rises.

 

"The amendments give the Renewable Energy Regulator more power to use against people that do the wrong thing, including breaches of safety requirements," Senator Wong said.

 

The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator continues to work with the CEC to deliver an enhanced program of compliance and performance checks. These checks would further ensure that the standards which underpin installation safety are met.

 

"These checks will be rolled out as part of an ongoing process of improving compliance and performance in the renewables sector," Senator Wong said.

 

Information for consumers is available at: www.climatechange.gov.au.
 
Victorian Smart Meter Roll Outs

From the Minister for Energy and Resources 

 

New hi-tech electricity meters will help drive more efficient energy habits.

 

The new meter program - to be rolled out for all Victorian households and small businesses over the next four years - will;

 

  • significantly assist electricity distributors to identify any loss of supply, helping to speed up power reconnections
  • remotely connect and disconnect electricity supply making it easier to switch energy retailers and move premises
  • provide for accurate real-time readings of a customer's electricity use at 30 minute intervals, making it easier to monitor energy consumption, change behaviour and save money
  • allow electricity retailers to offer more innovative tariffs and services
  • mean far less estimated bills or staying in for meter readings
 
The Brumby Labour Government is taking action to help Victorians better manage their energy use and reduce their individual carbon footprint by equipping homes with new smart electricity meters.
 
Victoria is the first state to give the go-ahead for the widespread roll out of smart meters - a task which represents one of the most significant improvements to electricity infrastructure in the state's history.
 
This is a big project affecting 2.2 million homes, and 300,000 businesses, so we made sure that we've designed a system that brings best value to everyone involved.
 
Smart meters are a valuable tool for Victorian households and small businesses to manage their electricity use. Customers will be able to make decisions to save electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and also saving money.
 
Electricity companies will be able to read meters remotely  which will mean the end of estimated readings and will ensure Victorians receive more accurate bills as well as making it quicker and smoother to move house and have power reconnected.
 
These meters will also help electricity distribution companies to detect and locate power outages and restore power to homes more quickly.
 
Smart electricity meters are a key step towards future smart electricity grids which will make it easier for renewable energy to be fed into the grid and for the future widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
 
An analysis of the costs and benefits of rolling out smart meters found that the project will deliver net benefits to Victoria of up to $700 million over the next 20 years.
 
For more information about smart meters or the Brumby Government's plans for energy, please visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/smartmeters.
 
Your electricity distribution company (that is responsible for the 'poles and wires') is also responsible for putting in your new meter and will contact you directly to advise of the details and expected time-frame for the installation of smart meters in your neighbourhood.
 
You will receive further information from your local electricity distribution company regarding the installation of your new smart meter. If you have any queries regarding the installation at your premises, please contact Jemena Electricity Networks on 9937 6766.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Bachelor MP
Minister for Energy and Resources 
 
Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme

On 19 February 2010 the Government announced that a new household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will assist households to save money on power bills and reduce their carbon emissions.

This new Scheme will replace the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program both of which are discontinued as of close of business 19 February 2010.

From 20 February 2010, the rebate on solar hot water systems is reduced from $1,600 to $1,000 and the rebate on heat pump systems is reduced from $1,000 to $600.

Transitional Arrangements until 19 March 2010

Transitional arrangements have been put in place for people who paid for or ordered their hot water systems prior to 20 February 2010.

Eligible solar or heat pump hot water systems purchased or installed prior to 20 February 2010 may be eligible for a $1,600 rebate for solar hot water or $1,000 for heat pumps, if proof of purchase or installation prior to 20 February 2010 is included with the application.

Applicants who ordered or made partial payment for their solar or heat pump hot water systems but had not had their system installed prior to 20 February 2010, must include written evidence of their order with their rebate application. A receipt for a deposit or a copy of their supplier’s order form is required. A quote is not sufficient evidence of an order.

In all cases final decisions regarding rebate eligibility will be made by the Government.

Arrangements after 20 March 2010

IMPORTANT: All applications received from 20 March 2010 will be assessed for $1,000 for solar hot water and $600 for heat pump hot water systems, regardless of installation date.

Interim program guidelines and application forms for the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme and the previous Solar Hot Water Rebate will be available shortly.

Further information is available on phone 1800 808 571.

 
You can find more information from environment.gov.au. 
 
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The maximum rebate, for an average-sized 1.5 kilowatt system, will be about $7500. A smaller-sized 1.0 kilowatt system will attract a rebate of about $5000.

The value of the rebate will fluctuate and it will decline annually from 2010 until 2016 when the program finishes.



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