“Solar-powered households face higher fees to use grid” read the headline in The Australian. “Australia’s one million households with rooftop solar photovoltaic panels face the prospect of higher charges to use the poles and wires that distribute electricity” it went on.

On Sunday 18 August, Tasmanian Energy Minister Bryan Green released the government’s decision on the solar feed-in tariff for Tasmania. The government’s policy is good news for existing solar owners. But the announced policies create many problems for the future of the solar industry and are forcing people to make hasty decisions about their future investment in solar.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is trying to discriminate against solar, and blaming solar owners for the recent electricity price hikes. He was set to release his “plan” for solar following an early July Cabinet meeting - but he still hasn't shared any details. We ran this ad in the Courier Mail to keep the pressure on Premier Newman.

The Electricity Reform Project in the Tasmanian Government has agreed to accept late submissions on the Tasmanian feed-in tariff until next Tuesday. Our Briefing Paper gives you all the information you need to make a submission – short or long. 

Last Thursday the Tasmanian Energy Minister Bryan Green released an Issues Paper and announced a three week period of public consultation on feed-in tariffs for Tasmania. This is a great victory for people power.

Solar programs in Queensland have been through a bit of a wild ride over recent months, but the solar-coaster isn't quite over yet.

Solar Citizens is delighted to be supporting a new community campaign to ensure current and future Tasmanian solar owners receive a fair price for the solar power they are feeding into the grid. 

Today marks a historic day in Australia's solar history. New data just released shows that on March 12, 2013 we passed our millionth solar home.

Collectively Australians have now invested $8 billion of their own money in rooftop solar panels, opting to get their electricity direct from the sun rather than rely on the polluting sources currently powering the national electricity grid.