Green light for ACT solar energy scheme

The Feed-In Tariff scheme started 1 March 2009 in the ACT, following its passage in the Legislative Assembly on 27 February.

Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell said: “The scheme has been capped at 30 kW capacity per installation, as proposed by the government, despite a Greens proposal which would have resulted in an uncapped scheme.

“Under the capped proposal, electricity bills for most households are unlikely to rise by more than $17 per annum. The cost of the scheme will be passed onto householders on a proportional-use basis.

“The government has been keen to protect low income earners and the most vulnerable in the community. This is why the government has decided to implement the Feed-In Tariff scheme in two stages so that all impacts of an extended scheme can be properly addressed.”

The scheme will pay participants the premium price for all the energy they generate and then feed back into the grid. Eligible participants will be paid 50.05 cents per kilowatt for systems up to 10 kW, and 40.04 cents per kilowatt for systems between 10 and 30 kW.