Solar Citizens is dismayed that the modelling released by the Australian Energy Management Commission (AEMC) on how increasing fixed electricity prices would impact consumers confirms those most impacted will be low energy consumers and solar households. [1]
Energy consumers were so concerned about the AEMC’s Draft Pricing Review that the Commission received 2,700 submissions [2] - more than half of them were from Solar Citizens supporters - who rejected the recommendation to increase fixed electricity charges.
After reviewing these submissions, the AEMC consulted directly with Solar Citizens about consumer concerns.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said:
“Our main concern with the proposal to increase fixed electricity charges is that it would change the ground rules for Australian home owners who have invested in, or are considering investing in solar and batteries. It undermines government incentives for home batteries and solar.
“Another key concern was that the Commission had not released any modeling to justify their proposal to increase fixed network charges. The modelling released yesterday shows that our concerns were justified.
“Low consumption households are still at the greatest risk of increases through the changes. That’s extremely unfair - those with the lowest electricity consumption are being punished.
“Solar households are also amongst the most impacted - for those with solar and batteries there is a projected $3,312 reduction in cost savings over 10 years, meaning an extended payback period on investing your hard earned money on your own solar and battery.
“We dispute the AEMC’s assumption that, ‘a transition towards higher fixed network charges would negligibly impact decisions to electrify and install solar and battery system’ — a 10% decrease in return on investment when margins are tight is, in fact, a huge variation.
“While the AEMC has released accompanying ‘advice’ on consumer protections, it has not released modelling of how possible consumer protections would actually deliver on their goals. [3]
“Consumer protections should not be an afterthought, they should be built into modelling before a proposal for charging is made.
“For the millions of Australians who have or want to invest in solar and batteries, we need to have certainty about our return on investment.
“Aussies had invested more $25 billion of their own money in rooftop solar and batteries. We need price signals that protect and encourage this investment, not spook it, as well as electricity pricing that supports the most vulnerable through the energy transition”.
[1] AEMC Pricing Review Distributional Impact Analysis - modelling report, 23 April, 2026
[3] Consumer protections to support network tariff reform, HoustonKemp, 23 April, 2026