Solar Citizens calls on the NSW government to reverse its decision to end the state’s solar battery incentive - the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme - prematurely on 30 June.
“This surprise decision is a blow to solar home owners planning to buy a home battery in coming months and a betrayal of the Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Climate and Energy, Chris Bowen’s assurance that the federal Cheaper Home Batteries program can be ‘stacked’ with state initiatives,” said Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.
“The NSW Government’s own Net Zero Commission says the state will not reach it’s target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 or 70% by 2035.
“Cutting an effective initiative to reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy is also disturbing in light of the offer to subsidise any extension of the life of the Eraring coal-fired power plant to 2029.
“The NSW Premier has put tax-payers on the hook for as much as $450 million for this extension through a sweetheart deal with Origin Energy.
“This bizarre decision puts the timely closure of the Eraring coal-fired power plant at risk. A key justification for extending the life of the plant was the lack of energy storage. The Commonwealth stepped in by boosting battery rebates further and now the NSW Government is making that transition harder.
Home batteries can save households up to $1,000 a year on their energy bills, and for many households this will continue to be a good financial decision. Federal and State governments should be working together to drive a million home batteries into the system - to firm the grid and bring down energy prices for everyone.
NSW needs an even greater influx of home battery storage to safely kick the Eraring coal-fired power plant out of the system, instead the NSW government is backing big energy companies and increasing carbon pollution ahead of everyday households and carbon reduction.
When the Prime Minister Anthony Albenese announced the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program as an election promise in April, it included a commitment that the Program would be able to be stacked on top of state rebates like the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
The Western Australian government has held up their side of this offer, and WA solar owners will be able to receive both federal and state battery subsidies after 1 July.
This is a slap in the face for NSW solar home owners who were promised up to $2,400 by the NSW government if they invested in a home battery, regardless of other rebates. And now, with no notice, that has been taken away.
Thousands of solar owners have been calling installers, ready to invest their own money in the transition away from an energy system dominated by large corporations.
If this battery rebate decision leads to the further extension of the Eraring coal-fired power plant, then the NSW Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe will be directly responsible for up to 12 million tonnes of carbon emissions being released over two years.