- Published:
- Friday 6 May 2016
The Andrews Labor Government welcomes a draft report recommending changes to way energy retailers pay customers with solar panels and other renewable energy technologies for the power they generate and feed back into the grid.
The Essential Services Commission released The Energy Value of Distributed Generation draft report today.
It comes in response to the Labor Government’s election commitment to investigate ways Victorians with solar panels could receive fair compensation for the power they generate after the former Coalition Government changed the framework for solar tariffs, which cut the amount households receive.
There are more than 245,000 solar systems installed in homes and businesses across the state.
The draft report recommends moving away from paying solar system owners a flat daily rate for the power they generate.
Instead, the Essential Services Commission recommends introducing flexible feed-in tariffs that reflect the time of day when the electricity is generated and fed into the grid, including peak, shoulder and off-peak times.
The draft report also recommends paying Victorians with solar systems to recognise the environmental benefit of installing solar and other renewable technologies.
The Essential Services Commission will now hold public consultations about the draft report with forums to be held in Mildura, Echuca, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Geelong, Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Cranbourne and Moonee Ponds.
The Government will consider the recommendations of the final report, which is due in August.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
“We welcome this draft report and will consider the Essential Services Commission’s final recommendations later this year.”
“The former Coalition Government slashed the amount Victorian households receive for the solar power they produce.”
“That’s why we established this inquiry to investigate options to promote renewable energy and ensure Victorians with solar panels get a fair deal.”