Transitional arrangements for new customers

• If you have purchased or leased a system by 27 October 2010 you – or your installer -have until 18 November 2010 to apply to connect to the grid to be eligible for the previous 60 cent gross tariff.
• If you have paid a non-refundable deposit to purchase or lease a system by 27 October 2010 you – or your installer -have until 18 November 2010 to apply to connect to the grid to be eligible for the previous 60 cent gross tariff.
• The closing date of 18 November 2010 is fixed -no extensions and no exceptions will be granted.
• Late applications to connect to the grid will be assessed under the new tariff (20 cent).
• If you have paid a fully refundable deposit, you should carefully consider your proposed purchase as you will be assessed under the new tariff (20 cent).
• If you are unsure about the status of your application or your contract arrangements contact your installer.

These changes do not apply to customers already connected.

 

www.industry.nsw.gov.au/energy

 

* subject to passage of legislation

 

 

 

Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Commerce Minister for Energy Minister for Public Sector Reform Minister for Aboriginal Affairs The Hon. Paul Lynch MP

 

24 August 2010 Review for Solar Bonus Scheme The Solar Bonus Scheme has reached its first milestone – a capacity of 50 megawatts – triggering a review of its performance, Minister for Energy Paul Lynch said today.

 

As part of the legislation, a review of the Scheme must be undertaken as soon as possible to identify how it has performed against its original objectives.

 

Mr Lynch said the Solar Bonus Scheme was established in January to encourage renewable energy, build green jobs and promote renewable energy technology.

 

He said there had been a rapid uptake of the NSW Scheme with about 30,000 households now being paid to feed renewable energy into the electricity grid.

 

“This is the right time to evaluate the Scheme against its objectives and identify how it can continue meeting the community’s needs,” Mr Lynch said.

 

Public submissions will be received before 30 September, with the review to be tabled in Parliament towards the end of the next session of Parliament.

 

Mr Lynch said the review by NSW Industry and Investment would look at a range of issues relevant to the Scheme’s objectives.

 

Under the legislation, a further review must be undertaken by the Auditor-General early next year.

 

Mr Lynch said the important terms of the Scheme, such as its length and the tariff rate, were locked into legislation.

 

“If any changes are to be proposed, the legislation would need to be amended and we are on the record stating that any changes would not be applied retrospectively,” Mr Lynch said.

 

“That means no customers who have already entered the Scheme will be affected by the review,” he said.

 

Submissions can be emailed to solarbonus.review@industry.nsw.gov.au or posted to Solar Bonus Review, Industry and Investment NSW, Level 17, 227 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000 by close of business 30 September, 2010.

 

May 16, 2010

 

 

 

 

A key long-term finding from these analyses is that 20-25% of global electricity production could be from solar electricity by 2050.

 

May 13, 2010

Abbott's Budget Reply - Renewable Energy

In a response to the recent Federal Budget announcements, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had little to say yesterday about renewable energy.

 

Mr. Abbott said the Coalition would not proceed with the budget increase to the Renewable Energy Future Fund and will cut government advertising by 25 per cent. These savings he said will pay for the Coalition's direct action on climate change policy.

 

Under the Coalition's "Solar Sunrise" element of its Direct Action policy, part of its Emissions Reduction Fund, it would provide a $1,000 rebate for either solar panels or solar hot water systems on top of current solar rebates, capped at 100,000 rebates per year.

 

The goal of the incentive would be to create one million additional home solar power systems by 2020 and provide an additional CO2 emissions reduction of 2.4 - 3 million tonnes a year by 2020.

 

Under the ERF, the Coalition would also allocate $100 million to a Solar Towns and Solar Schools Initiative which will provide grants for towns, non-capital cities and schools to access direct solar energy and export clean electricity to the mains power grid. Additionally, $50 million would be provided to a Geothermal and Tidal Towns Initiative.

 

While scant on information specifically relating to renewable energy in his speech yesterday, Mr. Abbott said next Wednesday at the National Press Club, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey will announce further measures to reduce spending and to increase productivity; including a detailed response to the new spending and new savings proposals in the recent budget.

 

19th Feb 2010
Federal Government announces important changes to their 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 emission.
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 today 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 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 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.

 

Program guidelines for the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will be available shortly.

 

Further information is available on phone 1800 808 571.

 

Electric Hot Water Heaters from 2010

(2009)
A standard residential electric hot water system produces around four tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. That’s 2.5 times more greenhouse gases than other more efficient technologies and the equivalent of running an average sized car for a year. To address this issue the Federal Government has announced that from 2010 it will make it mandatory to install.

 

To help the 50 per cent of existing Australian households that have an electric hot water system to reduce their electricity bills and Australia’s greenhouse emissions, the Australian Government has committed to:

 

Working with State and Territory Governments to phase-out greenhouse intensive hot water systems commencing in 2010, and Offering a rebate of up to $1,600 for eligible households to install solar hot water or heat pump systems.

 

Federal Budget includes $4.3 billion for improving the Energy Efficiency of Australian Homes
(12 May 2009)
More than three million Australian households are set to benefit from the largest energy efficiency rollout Australia has ever seen.
The $4.0 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package will install ceiling insulation in 2.9 million homes and help more than 300,000 additional households install a solar hot water system.

 

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