Amidst a misinformed and furious debate in South Australia about electricity prices, analysis by Solar Citizens in their State of Solar report reveals that SA is currently the best place in Australia for households to install solar and save money.

“South Australia has the highest percentage of solar rooftop owners in the country, 197,549 homes or 28.8% of all homes in the State, amongst the highest rates of solar penetration in the world, and the simple fact is that each of these households is saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars each year by powering their homes with solar,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director, Solar Citizens.

“In the 2014-15 financial year the savings made by solar owners on average in South Australia was $1,295.37 per household – more than any other State in the nation,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“A simple and indisputable fact - homeowners are currently better off financially by adopting solar power for their homes in SA.

The State of Solar report, recently released by Solar Citizens, was the first of its kind to undertake a detailed evaluation of the benefits of Australia’s solar rooftop boom quantifying out-of-pocket investment, the jobs created, savings made on power bills and environmental benefits.

“There are problems ahead though, even for South Australia. At the end of September 62,000 SA will lose their 16c premium feed in tariff and see bill hikes of $380 on average. The minimum retailer price for solar is 6.8c. Retailers then on sell this to neighbours for at least 4 times this amount.

South Australian energy prices are the highest in Australia, disconnections are the highest in the country andretailers gouge from customers more in SA than elsewhere.

“Again it is clear that right now solar is part of the solution to electricity prices in South Australia not a part of the problem, we can see very clearly that this is why we need more solar and renewables not less,” she said.

“The national figures are incredible, $7bn of out-of-pocket investment in rooftop solar pv, $4.4bn in bill savings and in terms of environmental benefits, 6 million tonnes of CO2 expected to be averted in 2016 alone,” she said.

Figures recently released by Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance indicate a staggering forecast of future investment in renewables globally. Through to 2040, BNEF forecast a record $7.8 trillion to be invested in renewables, including $3.4 trillion for solar, $3.1 trillion for wind, and $911 billion for hydro power.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected] 

19 July 2016: Solar Citizens are urging solar users to prepare for increased electricity prices with feed-in tariffs set to finish in months.

Government programs, or ‘Solar Bonus Schemes’, which incentivised solar uptake are set to end in the coming months in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, affecting more than 275,000 people.

“146,000 early solar adopters in NSW, particularly on the 60c Solar Bonus Scheme, will face bill hikes of $1,000 or more from 1 January 2017,” said Reece Turner, Consumer Campaigner with Solar Citizens.

“In addition, solar owners must ensure they have a new electricity meter installed.

“Without a new meter they will effectively be wasting their solar power, sending it back onto the electricity grid and unable to use it themselves.

“More than 62,000 solar owners, who take advantage of the South Australian 16c feed-in tariff which ends in October, will face bill shocks of around $380, whilst 67,000 Victorians on the transitional or “1 for 1” scheme face bill increases of $680 per year from 2017.

“Early solar adopters need to have a plan about how to maximise their solar power by using timers, considering a shift to heat pumps or electric how water systems and even preheating or cooling their homes,” Turner said.

Solar Citizens, in partnership with other community groups, have produced a video and outlining 5-steps for solar owners to most of their solar and minimise bill shock.

The 5 steps:

1. Get a new meter (NSW only)
2. Use more of your solar electricity
3. Think about getting off gas
4. Get the best electricity deal
5. Consider battery storage

More at:  http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/life_after_fits

These five steps are based on a comprehensive report from the Alternative Technology Association, commissioned by Total Environment Centre.

The full report can be found here: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/life_after_fits

Media Contact: Reece Turner 0450 466 040 reece at solarcitizens.org.au

Solar Citizens is an independent, community-based organisation bringing together millions of solar owners and supporters to grow and protect solar in Australia. Together, we take action to protect the rights of millions of Australians with solar to cut bills, create clean power and take energy generation back into our own hands.

30 June, 2016: Australians all over the country are bracing for higher power prices from tomorrow making solar power an increasingly smart option to save households hundreds every year on their bills.

Solar Citizens has for the first time undertaken calculations on the savings solar owners make on their electricity bills in each State and Territory. This featured in the report launched just days ago, The State of Solar 2016 Report.

In the last financial year (2014-205) Australia’s 1.5 million solar homes saved on average $653 per year on their electricity bills - just over $1 billion in total.

“It takes around six years for a household to pay back the cost of their solar system and then after that, their solar power is free,” said Reece Turner, Consumer Campaigner with Solar Citizens.

Whilst millions of Australians benefit from rooftop solar, Solar Citizens is calling on the major political parties to do more to help share the benefits of solar power with all Australians.

“Policy imagination from our political leaders to enable tenants and apartment dwellers to benefit from Australia’s solar resources is sorely lacking. We know that greater investment in renewables will put downward pressure on power prices,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director with Solar Citizens.

The State of Solar Report is available at: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/stateofsolar2016

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

22 June, 2016: In every federal electorate in Tasmania except for one, there are more voters with solar panels on their roof than the number of voters required to change the sitting member.

“If the major parties are serious about winning seats in Tasmania, they should be speaking directly to the 50,094 voters who have themselves invested in clean energy,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.

Solar Scorecard analysis was compiled using detailed postcode data published by the Clean Energy Regulator and weighted in accordance with the AEC federal electoral boundary redistribution in 2016.

In the seat of Bass, there are 9,318 people of voting age living in homes powered by the sun compared with only 2,563 votes needed to swing the seat,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.

“It’s not hard to do the maths on why that is a powerful constituency right there,” she said. Solar Citizens are launching their Homegrown Power Plan in Launceston on Thursday. It’s a comprehensive suite of policies that shows how Australia can repower Australia with 100% renewable power by 2030.

Claire O'Rourke, and co-author of the plan Nicky Ison who founded the Community Power Agency, will talk to residents in the seat of Bass about why a transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2030 is absolutely achievable.

Local resident, Anne Wennagel from Westbury, said she would be at the Homegrown Power Plan event to hear how we can transition to 100% renewable power for our future generations.

“We can't rely on power supply, especially in rural areas. Australia needs to get in line with the rest of the world on renewables. This can ensure the jobs and energy security Tasmanian' s deserve.

Ms O’Rourke said solar ownership is more prevalent in rural, regional and outer mortgage belt suburbs, where marginal electorates are most prevalent.

“These people are average Australians who decide to back renewable energy by installing solar panels on their roofs. They do this because they know, in the long run, it will reduce their power bills and save the environment,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“They want to know their government backs renewable energy as well.

“With less than two weeks until polling day, we’ve not seen any comprehensive plan for an orderly transition to clean, renewable power from the Federal Government.

“In 121 of the 150 lower house seats in the House of Representatives there are enough solar voters that could change their MP and turn politics in this country on its head,” she said.

 The Solar Scorecard website can be found at: www.solarscorecard.org.au

Full Briefing available on request or here.

What: Homegrown Power Plan launch

When: June 23 6 - 8pm

Where: St John Craft Beer (Barrel Room)

133 St John Street, Launceston

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

The State of Solar report is the first of its kind to undertake a detailed evaluation of the benefits of Australia’s solar rooftop boom quantifying out-of-pocket investment, the jobs created, savings made on power bills and environmental benefits.

“The results are simply staggering, $8bn of out-of-pocket investment in rooftop solar pv over the last decade, $4.4bn in bill savings and in terms of environmental benefits, 6 million tonnes of CO2 expected to be averted in 2016 alone,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director, Solar Citizens.

“With 5 million people living under a solar powered roof, Australia has the highest levels of rooftop solar in the world. This transformation has happened in just 6 years.

“The growth is astonishing and it is fascinating that we can see, for the first time, what average Australians themselves have invested to ride this boom,” she said.

From 2006 to 2010, the number of solar systems installed each year in Australia trebled year-on-year.

“Australians are leading the renewables charge and this new set of data plainly reveals that investment in solar pv has been the backbone of the renewables revolution in Australia,” she said.

“Australian political leaders need to understand just how much the average Australian themselves have committed of their own money to play a part in the transition of our power system. With 5 million Australians (or 1 in 5 voters) living under a solar roof, this is potent political constituency,” said O’Rourke.

“The global transition to renewables is already underway. Australia needs a national plan to harness the multi-billion dollar renewables boom and manage the orderly transition to 100% clean renewable power.

“Powering our lives and our homes with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 is technically possible and absolutely necessary as we outlined in our Homegrown Power Plan modelling.

Figures released by Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance last week indicate a staggering forecast of future investment in renewables globally. Through to 2040, BNEF forecast a record $7.8 trillion to be invested in renewables, including $3.4 trillion for solar, $3.1 trillion for wind, and $911 billion for hydro power.

Many of our State and Territory Governments understand this renewables revolution with four jurisdictions undertaking their own renewable energy targets (QLD, SA, VIC, ACT). But the Turnbull-Abbott Government has the regrettable track-record of cutting the national renewable energy target and still has not released a renewable energy policy.

Topline figures from report:

Out of Pocket investment in solar – The State of Solar Report is the first to quantify these figures:
Australians have invested “out-of-pocket” over $8bn in the last 10 years in rooftop solar pv.
In the 2014-15 financial year, Australians invested $1.23 billion dollars in rooftop solar from their own pocket. By comparison, investment in all large scale solar energy projects in calendar year 2014 was only around $118 million.
Every year for the last five years, Australians have spent more than $1 billion of their own money on small-scale solar PV systems (under 10kW).

Bill Savings – The State of Solar Report is the first to quantify these figures:
Solar households have saved $4.4 billion on their power bills since financial year 2007/2008 and around $1bn every year for the past three years.
Averaging this across all solar households, it can be said that in FY 2014/2015, the typical solar household saved $653 on their electricity bill.

Environmental Benefits - In 2016 alone, Australia’s rooftop solar generators will generate over 6.5 TWh, preventing around 6,301,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas from polluting our environment. That’s the equivalent of taking one-third of all trucks off Australian roads.[2]
A survey of Solar Citizens supporters undertaken in January 2016 with more than 4,300 respondents revealed that the primary driver for purchasing solar was financial reasons (60%), over environmental reasons (38%). But tellingly, there are greater satisfaction levels relating to the environmental impact of their solar arrays for these same respondents (95%) over the financial return (88%) and an overwhelming majority expected their solar investment to pay off.
The report is available here or upon request.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137

The full report is available here: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/stateofsolar2016 

Federal Government plans announced today, to yet again reallocate money from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), this time to a ‘Sustainable Cities Investment Fund’, further risks the mandate of the CEFC and sees this important institution at danger of becoming yet another political pork barrel, according to Solar Citizens. 

“Here we are again, pulling money from an important institution to meet a short term political objective - no matter what they try and tell the Australian public, this government still has no coherent plan for the shift to clean renewable power beyond 2020,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.

“This is another politically driven, piecemeal policy that sees us yet again responding to a political need rather than building a decent plan for our future energy needs.

“With under two weeks to go, it is becoming clearer and clearer that the Turnbull Government has only one plan - a plan to get themselves re-elected.

“This just won't cut it,” she said.

“Australia stands to gain an $800b slice of the global renewable energy investment boom, and we will miss out on jobs, growth and investment if we don't get on with it now - this is what the CEFC is really for.

“One wonders what the CEFC Board and Management feel as they watch their investment mandate being pulled apart with these announcements.

“The global transition to renewables is already underway. Australia needs a national plan to harness the multi-billion dollar renewables boom and manage the orderly transition to 100% clean renewable power.

“Powering our lives and our homes with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 is 100% possible and 100% necessary; Australians overwhelmingly support renewables - all we need is a decent plan and the political will to get us there,” she said.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

Solar scorecard:http://solarscorecard.org.au/

Vote 1 Solar campaign:http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/vote1solar

Homegrown Power Plan:http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/hpp

Today’s announcement from the Federal Government saying it plans to reallocate money from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to a fund aimed at bandaging the severe wounds of the Great Barrier Reef is a case of ‘shuffling some deck chairs about’, according to Solar Citizens.

“No matter what they try and tell the Australian public, this government has no coherent plan for the shift to clean renewable power beyond 2020 – these sort of politically driven, piecemeal policies will end up with us responding to emergencies rather than building a decent plan for our future energy needs,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens. 

“The Turnbull Government has only one plan it seems, a plan to get themselves re-elected, to hoodwink the public into believing that today’s announcement is a meaningful and considered response to the crisis playing out up North. 

“It is not,” she said.

“Australia stands to gain an $800b slice of the global renewable energy investment boom, and we will miss out on jobs, growth and investment if we don't get on with it now - this is what the CEFC is for.

“The global transition to renewables is already underway. Australia needs a national plan to harness the multi-billion dollar renewables boom and manage the orderly transition to 100% clean renewable power.

“Powering our lives and our homes with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 is 100% possible and 100% necessary; Australians overwhelmingly support renewables - all we need is a decent plan and the political will to get us there.

“The Government has made it crystal clear that they still intend to lock in at least $1bn in savage cuts to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as outlined in the May budget – a reckless, foolish and short sighted move,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.

“This was on top of their sustained and ideological attacks on the Renewable Energy Target,” she said.

Media Contact:

Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

• Solar scorecard: http://solarscorecard.org.au/
• Vote 1 Solar campaign: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/vote1solar
• Homegrown Power Plan: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/hpp

Following last week’s release of the annual Solar Citizens’ national ‘Solar Scorecard’, the people of New England have the opportunity to hear first-hand how they too can play a part in the great transition of our power systems at a launch event for the
Homegrown Power Plan in Tamworth.

“We really hope the local people of the New England electorate can turn out to our Homegrown Power Plan launch tomorrow (Thursday June 9) evening,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director, Solar Citizens.

“It’s an incredibly timely event, especially given the ReachTel polling that emerged today viaThe Australia Institute. It revealed that almost three quarters of the federal electorate of NewEngland support Australia gradually transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2030 – a staggering, but not unexpected figure.

“This election, we want to make sure the people that are trying to represent the people of the area to make a firm commitment to a renewable energy future, for the jobs, growth and investment opportunities it brings, not to mention lower power bills and healthy communities too,” she said.

The Homegrown Power Plan is a comprehensive roadmap that sets out how we can transition Australia to the renewable future the majority of people in New England support.

The launch feature Nicky Ison, co author of the Homegrown Power Plan and Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) and Claire O’Rourke, the National Director of Solar Citizens.

“This event will give everyone a chance to hear about the latest economic and technical modelling and policy recommendations that could see Australia powered by 100% renewable power within a generation.”

All candidates for the seat of New England have been invited. Media are welcome to attend.

Claire O’Rourke is available for interview.

What: New England launch of the Homegrown Power Plan
Where: Cafe 2340, 15B White St, Tamworth, New South Wales
When: This Thursday 9 June @ 6:00pm
RSVP: By clicking here.

Last week’s release of the Solar Scorecard indicated that in the seat of New England, there are 17,730 people of voting age living in homes powered by the sun compared with 18,679 votes needed to swing the seat in the last federal election.

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

June 2, 2016: Research released today by Solar Citizens, shows 80 per cent of federal electorates contain more voters with solar panels on their roof than the number of voters required to change the sitting member.

The Solar Scorecard analysis was compiled using detailed postcode data published by the Clean Energy Regulator and weighted in accordance with the AEC federal electoral boundary redistribution in 2016. The scorecard also analyses the major parties’ pledges on priority policy areas outlined in the recently released Homegrown Power Plan.
“With just one month to go until polling day, politicians need to be clear that in 121 of the 150 lower house seats in the House of Representatives there are enough solar voters that could change their MP, and turn politics in this country on its head,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.
“What this research shows is that both parties need to come out and better address their stance on renewable energy. Three million Australians, or one in five people of voting age, now live under a solar-powered roof, making them an influential and rapidly growing constituency that politicians ignore at their peril.
“Neither of the major parties wants to admit renewable energy is a serious election issue, but poll after poll tells us it is a vote shifter.
“The research shows solar ownership is more prevalent in rural, regional and outer mortgage belt suburbs, where marginal electorates are most prevalent.
“Major parties are always chasing marginal seat wins - if they want to lock in a strong election win, they should actively support the three million voters who support clean energy,” Ms O’Rourke said.
Recent polling shows that 64 per cent of all Australians would be more likely to vote for a party with a policy transition our economy to 100% renewables in the next 20 years.
“These people are average Australians who decide to back renewable energy by installing solar panels on their roofs. They do this because they know, in the long run, it will reduce their power bills and save the environment.
“They want to know our federal government is doing the same.
“The jobs and growth mantra lacks any substance without a serious position on renewable energy investment and the public is sick of being played for fools. A report released this week by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) has highlighted the loss in jobs in the renewable energy sector in the 2014-15 financial year following a cut to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target.

“If jobs were really the target, they need look no further than the renewable energy sector which displays real job prospects and innovation as well as a practical response to transitioning our economy away from fossil fuels,” Ms O’Rourke said.

Solar scorecard: www.solarscorecard.org.au
Homegrown Power Plan: www.solarcitizens.org.au/hpp

Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]

Solar Citizens, the peak group representing 5 million solar owners, welcomes the announcement today from the Labor Opposition leader to build 500MW of clean energy over the next 10 years if elected.

“For too long, Tasmania has relied upon the large hydro-power electricity system to supply its electricity needs. But the energy crisis has revealed the need for Tasmania to invest in more new, renewable clean energy such as rooftop solar”, said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.

“There are over 69,000 Tasmanians living in solar-powered houses who know the benefits of solar power better than anyone. After all, they’ve invested their own money in order to reduce their electricity bills, produce clean energy and stimulate local jobs”, said O’Rourke

‘Millions of dollars in taxpayers money has been spent dealing with the impacts of the energy crisis. Investment in renewable energy like solar would help ensure this energy crisis is not repeated”, said O’Rourke

“Solar Citizens calls on the Hodgman Government to support the solar industry in Tasmania and provide a vision for building more renewables”

“Recent research undertaken with the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance has shown that the price for solar in Tasmania is vastly undervalued. Ensuring a fair price for solar exports would help stimulate private investment in rooftop solar, creating jobs and ensuring greater resilience in Tasmania’s energy supply” said O’Rourke.

The report ‘Why is solar power undervalued in Tasmania?’ can be found at: http://tasrenew.org.au/solar/fit/

Media Contact:
Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]