Queensland is at risk of losing its reputation as the Sunshine State.
Today, Energy Minister Mark McArdle has announced that the Newman government will be killing the 8 cent feed-in tariff for solar owners as of July. This means that the 40,000 solar owners already on the tariff - and future solar owners in Queensland - will have to negotiate directly with retailers to receive any money at all for the energy they provide back to the grid.
If Premier Newman is looking for a way to ensure big energy companies maintain their control over our energy system, this is the best way to do it.
When retailers set the rules, solar owners lose. We can’t let this happen here in Queensland. There are families who will lose the already too small tariff they’re receiving now, and there’s still thousands more homes in our State that want to go solar. We can’t let the Newman Government put our energy future back into the hands of the big power companies.
Take a stand for your solar and the growth of solar in Queensland today. Sign the petition below.
To the Queensland Government and Energy Minister Mark McArdle,
I am outraged by your decision to slash the 8 cent feed-in tariff, putting 40,000 Queensland families already on the tariff and the future of solar in Queensland in the hands of big energy companies.
I want the Queensland Government to ensure a fair price for the power solar households generate in the State.
Retailers should not be allowed to set their own tariffs. There should be mandatory feed-in tariff premiums in QLD. The evidence in NSW shows that deregulated feed-in tariffs reduce choice for consumers and competition between retailers - leaving consumers at the mercy of retailers.
Let’s keep our reputation as the Sunshine State by ensuring that solar owners are provided a fair return for the energy they provide to the grid.
Signed,