Solar Owners Call for a Fair Price for Solar After Doing the Heavy Lifting
Tuesday, 15 May: Solar owners responded to a proposal to cut feed-in tariffs (FiT) by descending on NSW Parliament House this morning in tracksuits and sweatbands to call for a fair price for their solar.
More than 20 solar citizens participated in the Keep Solar FiT stunt to urge the State Government to mandate a minimum fair price for the solar feed-in tariff. The group made use of dumbbells and an imitation barbell and performed an aerobics routine to ‘Walking on Sunshine’.
“Solar owners are tired of doing the heavy lifting and not seeing any gains. The NSW Government needs to step in and mandate a fair price for rooftop solar that’s fed back into the grid,” said Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner at Solar Citizens.
“More than 400,000 households across the state have stumped up their own money to put solar on the roof, they’ve done the legwork, it’s time for the government to do their bit and ensure they get a fair price for the power they produce.”
The stunt was in response to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) recent proposal to slash the recommended solar feed-in tariff from 11.9-15c/kWh to 7.5c/kWh.
NSW Shadow Energy Minister Adam Searle and Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith spoke at the action and demonstrated support for mandating a fair price for solar. NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin did not attend.
The Greens took the opportunity to announce their intention to later this week introduce a Private Member’s Bill to mandate a minimum fair price for solar.
A report commissioned by Solar Citizens found that in just one year solar households saved NSW energy consumers $2.2 billion.
“This latest proposal from IPART is a slap in the face to all the households that are pumping out clean power and reducing the cost of electricity for everyone,” says Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner for Solar Citizens.
“It’s time for NSW to adopt a fair minimum feed-in tariff that recognises the financial, environmental and health benefits that solar households provide to the whole community.
“Already, 12,107 people have signed our petition calling for a Fair Price for Solar.”
Media contact: Shani Tager 0432 050 809
Photos and video of the stunt can be found here.
