When a Solar Electricity system is installed, the owner is able to sign up to an “Electricity Feed in Tariff” with the local electricity supplier, where excess power created can be sold back to the electricity company.
Feed-in tariff rebates where credited to an electricity account will not be assessed as income, but these rebates, where paid by cheque etc, can be classed as income, and can affect Centrelink benefits etc. This may affect people who generate more in rebates than they are charged for electricity used.
Tariff Rates for excess Electricity created.
Each State has different rules on this, and checking the current rates with my own Electricity supplier, I get the following information:
Queensland
The Queensland Government Solar Bonus Scheme commenced on 1 July 2008. Solar owners that are participating in the scheme will be paid a minimum of $0.44 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for surplus electricity fed into the grid. The electricity companies themselves are free to pay more if they wish, and some do.
Current (Jan 2011) Queensland Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 44 cents State Government Minimum
- 52 cents AGL
- 50 cents Origin Energy
The government’s feed-in tariff may be subject to change without notice. Any premium rate in addition to the government’s feed-in tariff may also be subject to change.
Note:
It is legislated under the Electricity Act 1994 that
the solar bonus of 44c/kWh will expire in 2028.
Australian Capital Territory
The scheme is effective from 1st July 2010 until 30 June 2011, with a minimum rate of 45.7 cents/kWh generated for systems up to 10kW. This appears that it can be changed each year. The rate for 2009-10 was 50.05 cents/kWh generated for systems up to 10kW.
Current (Jan 2011) Australian Capital Territory Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 45.7 cents State Government Minimum ACT Government Electricity Feed-in Tariff Scheme
- 45.7 cents Origin Energy
New South Wales
The New South Wales Solar Bonus Scheme, which commenced on 1 January 2010, will continue to operate until 31 December 2016. An overall Scheme capacity limit of 300 MW applies. Customers who connect to the grid after the cap has been reached will not be eligible for tariff payments under the Scheme. Some retailers may also offer additional payments on top of the Solar Bonus Scheme tariff of 20 cents per kilowatt hour. The Scheme will be reviewed in 2012 and again after 2016.
According to this link, applications to connect have now passed 300MW. This may mean that NO NEW systems will be eligible.
Current (Jan 2011) New South Wales Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 20.0 cents State Government Minimum this is reduced from the 60c/kWh that applies to pre October 2010 installations.
- no current details Origin Energy
Northern Territory
The scheme.
Current (Jan 2011) Northern Territory Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 40.0 cents State Government Minimum
- 40.0 cents Origin Energy
South Australia
If you are a ‘small electricity customer’ in South Australia and have installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity system on your premises, you are able to receive a premium price for any excess electricity you return to the electricity grid. SA Solar Feed-In Scheme
Current (Jan 2011) South Australian Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 44.0 cents State Government Minimum
- 54.0 cents State Government Minimum (per Aug 2010 review proposal)
- 50.0 cents Origin Energy (I assume this is based on the stated minimum + 6 cents)
Tasmania
The Tasmanian buyback scheme is available to Aurora customers with new and existing eligible renewable power connections.
The feed-in tariff you will be paid is the same rate that you are charged for electricity you use. Tasmania Feed in Tariff
Current (Jan 2011) Tasmania Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
Western Australia
The Western Australian residential net feed-in tariff scheme commenced on 1 August 2010. The scheme pays owners of eligible renewable energy systems 40c per kilowatt hour (kWh) for energy exported to the grid that is in excess of the household consumption at the time of generation (as recorded by the meter), in addition to any schemes offered by electricity retailers. WA Office of energy.
Check with your local electricity retailer for your applicable FIT rates and for any restrictions.
Current (Jan 2011) Western Australia Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 40.0 cents Origin Energy
- 47.0 cents Synergy
In 2010 I checked one supplier who quoted: “We buy this power from you at the same rate you buy it for, minus the GST”. Therefore the current buy back rate would be about 16 cents per kWh.
Victoria
The Victorian Government have regulated a 60c/kWh buy back price for excess electricity.
Current (Jan 2011) New South Wales Electricity Feed In Tariff rates per supplier:
- 66 cents Origin Energy