The Newman Government has axed the 8 cent feed-in tariff, and as of July, 40,000 solar homes, and all future solar owners in Queensland, will have to negotiate directly with retailers to receive any return for the energy they provide into the grid.
In our recent meeting with Energy Minister Mark McArdle, he stated that because of high uptake of solar, retailers will have to offer a fair price for solar, as they will be be uncompetitive if they don’t. But, our experience with NSW, where families are receiving very small feed-in tariffs after negotiating with retailers, proves this otherwise. When pressed, Minister McArdle had no clear response as to how the Newman Government would guarantee that a fair price would be provided by retailers.
Although Minister McArdle had no answers on dealing with retailers, thanks to suggestions from many of you, we have a few options. We could continue to fight for fair legislated feed-in tariffs, or we could look into the option of bringing thousands of solar owners together to use our market power and negotiate a good deal with the energy retailers. Both options will use time and energy, so we'd like your thoughts on what the best use of our campaign resources. Let us know what you think below!
Showing 370 reactions
A: Yes.
A: No.
A: Negotiating with the Newman government would be a waste of time and resources. It is a government that listens closely to what business wants and coal is big business in Queensland. As Minister McArdle demonstrated: say want your audience wants to hear and be pleasant while doing, then ignore them when you leave the room.
A: I actually don’t have solar panels but support your cause ..Uncertainty over the Renewable Energy Target is hindering investment in renewables, letting other countries take the lead. Australia now ranks ninth in the world, behind China, the US, South Africa, Canada, India and Germany. And the clean energy industry has warned that Australia could fall even further behind
A: Maybe.
A: As Ergon are the only option in N Queensland why would they negotiate??? We should demand that if the 8 cents go the 44 cents should also go. I was not told at the time that my 8 cents would go. I also have put about 10000 Kw hours into the grid from my commercial business which the steal (I do not get a cent but i pay for my night power)
A: Yes.
A: Like others I don’t trust this government either. I think we need both actions. I would like to see an outcome where people who take the step to solar in the future get a decent return on their efforts. Who is going to willingly do that for us? The Government? (you’ve got to be joking!). Power companies? (You’re living in dreamland!) I think that solidarity among solar owners is the only way we might have an effect. Thank you to those people who have taken on this responsibility. I hope the rest of us appreciate your good work.
A: Maybe.
A: No.
A: No.
A: No.
A: Maybe.
A: No.
A: No.
A: No.
A: I don’t favour negotiating with Newman – I don’t trust him.
A: The only way to achieve any reasonable outcome for solar owners is to continue on both fronts. Additionally it would be of significant importance to coordinate and somehow unite all owners to take coordinated action either against the government or retailers at the same time. A minor technical alteration of all current solar system could make retailers to loose considerable amount of money on one hand, and tell the government that 40 000 voters are an important factor at any election. Mr McArdle needs to lift his ministerial powers which he is obviously not willing or capable of doing. We may need to privatise government to perform better in public interest, rather then elect them.
A: Maybe.
A: Yes.
A: I think a big problem is the older solar owners who were guaranteed 44c/kwh feed in for 10 years. And now, anyone else who signs up is given 0c! It just doesn’t seem fair. It seems we are paying the price now for them to keep their 44c, which is higher than the rate to even buy electricity (28c/kwh for me). Is it possible that they could change this so that we ALL got a fair rate, not just those who signed up before? I doubt they would be willing to reduce what they are getting. I would have loved to have gotten solar then, but was renting at that stage and did not own. I feel like I am being punished for getting solar and doing the right thing.
A: Maybe.
A: Yes.
A: Yes.
A: It does seem unbalanced that the electricity retailers can charge upwards of 27c a kilowatt hour and only return a few cents for supply. At present Click Energy is returning 10c per kWh, are they obliged to continue this?
A: Would it be useful to investigate he bulk purchase of storage? Then we could take our power out of the system and let the power companies deal with the resultant loss. Or, is that too simplistic?
A: Maybe.
A: Minister McArdle and the Newman Government are just giving you what you want to hear. I understand their point of view in regard subsidies, however I do not believe they have any interest in making retailers provide a fair and reasonable fee for our solar energy. If the current tariff is around 29c for electricity, why aren’t they paying us somewhere around 17c. They get to make a markup of 13c. Plenty of profit in that. We need to bring the retailers to the negotiating table quickly otherwise the moment will be lost.
The question remains if they do not negotiate without government intervention what alternative do we have.
I say get the Newman Government to legislate that retailers must offer a fair price and at the same time, bring our pressure to bare as a buying block sooner rather than later.
A: Personally, I’m happy with my own situation, but I understand that many others are not so fortunate.
A: Maybe.