Home Solar & Subsidized Feed In Tariff Qld

[Moggy]

Tonights News, The Queensland Government stated that the .44c FIT will continue until end of contract , 2028 .

$hit you'd have to be worried now wouldn't you 

[Garfish]

Tonights News, The Queensland Government stated that the .44c FIT will continue until end of contract , 2028 .

The Queensland productivity commission released a 157 page document on electricity pricing in qld. If any one is bored, could they read it and provide a summary

Apparently the solar scheme adds $89 to the average account every year,

[Fizzie]

Apparently the solar scheme adds $89 to the average account every year,

Yes, but we evil solar owners  are also being charged that extra $89, so we're paying ourselves! 

Other change they're talking about is scrapping the Senior's Card rebate (~$320 a year, so I wonder how much that adds on to every bill?) & then paying the rebate to everyone with a health care card, which includes everyone on Newstart, Sickness Allowance, Disability Pension etc, so will probably increase the number of rebates!

Did mention though, that last year, the Qld State Govt pulled in $4 billion profit from electricity - to my mind, that would sort of suggest that they could cut electricity prices by 75% across the board, save everyone $100's a year, & still make $1 billion themselves - nah, stupid idea 

[grafy82]

Did mention though, that last year, the Qld State Govt pulled in $4 billion profit from electricity - to my mind, that would sort of suggest that they could cut electricity prices by 75% across the board, save everyone $100's a year, & still make $1 billion themselves - nah, stupid idea 

Best comment of the entire thread. To all the haters, please tell me again how people with solar are the cause of your bills increasing???

[gronk]

Other change they're talking about is scrapping the Senior's Card rebate (~$320 a year, so I wonder how much that adds on to every bill?) & then paying the rebate to everyone with a health care card, which includes everyone on Newstart, Sickness Allowance, Disability Pension etc, so will probably increase the number of rebates!

I'll be on the dole next week ( I already have my health care card ) and I have already sorted my rebate for elect bills !! 

AND, I get a rebate for my gas bill as well !! 

[UIZ733]

then paying the rebate to everyone with a health care card, which includes everyone on Newstart, Sickness Allowance, Disability Pension etc, so will probably increase the number of rebates!

That is nearly whole phucking population of Qld. We'll ALL be doomed then. 

[tryagain]

Apparently the solar scheme adds $89 to the average account every year,

thats $89 per bill so my assumption would be $356.

Best comment of the entire thread. To all the haters, please tell me again how people with solar are the cause of your bills increasing???

As previously stated not the only cause but still a significant one.

I'll be on the dole next week ( I already have my health care card ) and I have already sorted my rebate for elect bills !! 

AND, I get a rebate for my gas bill as well !! 

.

You don't get it for having a health care card, only a seniors card, that would require this government following the advice of the QPC and actually doing something which from what I have seen find it very unlikely to happen.

[gronk]

.
You don't get it for having a health care card, only a seniors card, that would require this government following the advice of the QPC and actually doing something which from what I have seen find it very unlikely to happen.

You wanna bet ??  I was in contact with my provider yesterday and she asked me what sort of card it was and yep, we'll sort the rebate out for you !!   

Ps; I don't know what the QPC is, but I live in NSW.  We even get an hours extra sunshine than Qld, so there !! 

[tryagain]

You wanna bet ??  I was in contact with my provider yesterday and she asked me what sort of card it was and yep, we'll sort the rebate out for you !!   

Ps; I don't know what the QPC is, but I live in NSW.  We even get an hours extra sunshine than Qld, so there !! 

Yes in NSW you would but not in QLD. The QPC (queensland productivity commission) recommended it would be better to apply to the means tested Health care card as opposed to the seniors card. It makes sense to me but I cant see this QLD government doing it or much of anything else for that matter.

[Spada]

Just out of curiosity, I had a look at my last power bill.

For the full billing period, separate to consumption charges and solar credits, Origin have included a "Supply Charge" of $105.92 (116.398 c/day). I believe this is a charge that is levied for being connected to the grid, and is applied to all customers.

In addition, there is a new charge which was only applicable for 12 billing days (from 1/1/16) called a "Solar Meter Charge" of 6.767 c/day which I assume is only charged to customers with solar feed-in systems ? It's a nominal amount with no significant effect on the total bill, but it is there.

With all of the Utilities companies that we use, there is a charge for being connected to their systems, whether we consume their product or not. If we don't want to pay the charges, then there are way's to opt out (difficult and possibly expensive, but it can be done). If you disconnect your home phone or internet, you no longer get charged for being connected to the data lines that run past your house. If you disconnect your electricity from the grid, then you no longer get charged for being connected to the poles and wires that run past your house.

But what gets me cranky is that I am 100% self sufficient for water, and do not need a council supply. There is mains water running past the house, but even if I was not connected to it, I must still pay $294 per year for a "Water Access Charge". I've checked with the council, they are happy to disconnect me from the supply and remove the meter, but I would still be charged the access fee because the service is available. Using it or not is my choice, but because it is available, council deem that I must pay for it.

Same applies to sewerage. I'm not connected to the network as We have installed a HSTP system, so nobody has to deal with my s#it except me. Yet council deem I must pay a sewerage charge (around $150 per year, cant find my rates notice to confirm).

So I'd like to do a deal with anyone that does not have a solar system. You stop complaining about your power bill, and I'll stop complaining about my water and s#it bill  Sometimes life throws us a lemon.............

[rags]

Quote
Same applies to sewerage. I'm not connected to the network as We have installed a HSTP system, so nobody has to deal with my s#it except me. Yet council deem I must pay a sewerage charge (around $150 per year, cant find my rates notice to confirm).


[/quote]


Spada curiosity proms me to ask which council you are in, as my understanding a permit to operate as issued by Council  to operate an onsite waste water system in areas that is serviced by a Service Providers sewer system will not be issued under the plumbing act. But you are correct that the Service Provider can charge you an availability charge regardless of if you use the service.
 But then again if you had a house fire as a result of your roof top solar system, be assured that the fire brigade will use that available water main passing your house on your behalf as it was available to you!

[Garfish]

Just out of curiosity, I had a look at my last power bill.

In addition, there is a new charge which was only applicable for 12 billing days (from 1/1/16) called a "Solar Meter Charge" of 6.767 c/day which I assume is only charged to customers with solar feed-in systems ? It's a nominal amount with no significant effect on the total bill, but it is there.

That's the charge to provide and read your meter,  if you have tariff 11, 31/33 and solar its 3 charges all different costs, it used to be included in your electricity price but they've now separated them

[Moggy]

That's the charge to provide and read your meter,  if you have tariff 11, 31/33 and solar its 3 charges all different costs, it used to be included in your electricity price but they've now separated them

Thats what the bloke who read my meter told me too.
I said phuck ring me up & I'll save you the trip :-)

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[prodigyrf]

Bit of a discussion on the costs of LPG heating for cooking and/or gas hot water here although you might need to update pricing-
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1913721
Even renting one 45kg with your own 8.5kg backup to reorder seems very competitive when you consider some of the consumption anecdotes in comparison to the NG fixed service charges I came across. If you had solar panels on FIT it would probably pay to run a Rinnai instant HWS and a gas cooker on LPG to max out the feed-in tariff, rather than solar hot water with electric boost. Horses for courses eh?

[Spada]

Spada curiosity proms me to ask which council you are in, as my understanding a permit to operate as issued by Council  to operate an onsite waste water system in areas that is serviced by a Service Providers sewer system will not be issued under the plumbing act. But you are correct that the Service Provider can charge you an availability charge regardless of if you use the service.
 But then again if you had a house fire as a result of your roof top solar system, be assured that the fire brigade will use that available water main passing your house on your behalf as it was available to you!

We're in Logan City Council (not by choice, we were forced there when the state government amalgumated our local shire council). We are in a semi-rural area, and sewerage is not available. Also, the water mains is a low pressure system, and not able to support fire fighting services, we need to provide our own water for that.
Interestingly, talking to the firies (RFS volunteers) at the local shops one day, they told me that if a house with solar panels is on fire, they can only fight the fire externally (hose the house from outside), as the feed in power is still live within the building even if the mains has been isolated at the street.

I'm not complaining about the fire/solar issues as it was our choice to take that risk, just highlighting them.

[cruiser 91]

I do recall when we first hooked up our solar system in 2010 our price for kw usage from the grid had gone up. I called our supplier to query the new price hike. The answer I got was "You are now on a high rate due to having solar. Those that do not have solar pay a lesser rate"

I'm in SA and have all my bills since putting solar on. I can can firm kw prices with those that don't have solar. It would be interesting to see the comparison.
 

[Fizzie]

That's the charge to provide and read your meter,  if you have tariff 11, 31/33 and solar its 3 charges all different costs, it used to be included in your electricity price but they've now separated them

Yes, the metering charges were supposedly always there included in usage price & now shown separately, but the electricity prices haven't gone down at all 

[UIZ733]

but the electricity prices haven't gone down at all 

And we better all toughen up, they will not go down, ever.
Solar, batteries and any other renewable innovations will not have any positive impact on prices. Power utilities and governments will continue to blame everything and anything for price increases. The reality is power companies (and governments?) are selling a commodity we desperately need and they will make as much profit as they can from the venture.

[Symon]

Good article in the SMH today. 

[WCN_Bren]

I was selling solar for a bit and soon discovered there's not a lot of point in getting solar now unless you have a battery system or a crud load of panels... 6.4kw+
And yep, I think it's innately unfair that it was mostly those with money that benefited from the huge rebates. If i had the money at that time I would have done it too. I wouldn't blame anyone for having the resource to capitalise on the rebate thing but it really is an unfair system. You only have to drive around well-off suburbs and see house after house with solar compared to other modest suburbs.

We sold lots of systems to retirees looking to plan for the future with something they could rely on as a fixed cost as much as possible but now there are higher rates for those with panels and the increasing "service fee" has diminished that whole fixed cost reliance.

maybe a fairer way would be attaching the level of rebate to your medicare levy and / or means testing.

[briann532]

Fair comments, but what about most of my customers who saved hard and "invested" their hard earned money in future energy savings???

Even myself. I installed a system (rather cheaper than most I'll admit) but at a time when we were stretched for money.
Most people I work for have "earned" their money and if they choose to use it to get cheaper power instead of a better foxtel package or a trip to Bali, then why should they be persecuted for it?

Now in Sh17ney we only have the net metering with 6c feed in tarrif, so its only worth using the power you generate.
If you are going to invest your hard earned money to save yourself buying power from the authorities, then good on you I reckon.
Remember too, a lot of people borrowed money to finance their systems.

I'm building a new house and it will be running on solar panels and eventually off the grid, when prices of storage come down.
Alternatively I could use the money to buy more booze, get the foxtel on and upgrade my 30" tele to a huge muther@@#$er.
What do you reckon I'm going to invest in???

We make our choices and our lives, so no point complaining the grass is greener on the other side.

I have friends who are very well off, but it all came at a price. They worked day and night for years and years and didn't spend a lot of time with their families.
Now they hear constantly how "lucky" they are. Funny how the harder they worked, the luckier they got.

Ahhhh entitlement......... It's a great suburb to live in!!!!

(Sorry - just my 2c worth of the debate)
Brian

[cruiser 91]

I was selling solar for a bit and soon discovered there's not a lot of point in getting solar now unless you have a battery system or a crud load of panels... 6.4kw+
And yep, I think it's innately unfair that it was mostly those with money that benefited from the huge rebates. If i had the money at that time I would have done it too. I wouldn't blame anyone for having the resource to capitalise on the rebate thing but it really is an unfair system. You only have to drive around well-off suburbs and see house after house with solar compared to other modest suburbs.

We sold lots of systems to retirees looking to plan for the future with something they could rely on as a fixed cost as much as possible but now there are higher rates for those with panels and the increasing "service fee" has diminished that whole fixed cost reliance.

maybe a fairer way would be attaching the level of rebate to your medicare levy and / or means testing.

I suppose the same goes for those that have purchased a home eh?

I can remember back in 2010 some of my mates who decided to spend their hard earnt cash on a overseas holiday instead of a solar system, wow are they now pissed.
But I do recall the baby boomers getting free uni degrees, I'm gen Y, I missed out  , I'm not complaining 

I also almost worked in the industry of selling solar a few years back. I quit after half way through the second week of training. High pressure selling tactics were aimed mostly at pensioners.....................the whole game is was wrong!  Many paid 10 times the price for a 1.5kw system to market value back in 2010. $8.5k plus  for a 1.5kw system.................and they got away with it.

My parents paid 30k for their first home, at the time a single income earner per household was all that was needed...........shame on them?

[WCN_Bren]

I suppose the same goes for those that have purchased a home eh?

Not so much but i guess a little.

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[Trrrumping Beast]

This whole debate is a joke. It can be simplified down to the very basics : a scheme was offered by the federal government elected by the majority of Australians that gave a benefit for entering into a contract. It was public and made available to all. Nothing sneaky about it.
And that is the end of it. Anyone criticising those who took up the offer is really just bitter at themselves. Schemes come and go. Ever is it the way of governments. No different to all the whining when capital gains tax was introduced.
The only people to blame for any perceived subsidising etc are the elected politicians who introduced the schemes, not those who took them up.

[WCN_Bren]

The only people to blame for any perceived subsidising etc are the elected politicians who introduced the schemes, not those who took them up.

I do agree. But that doesn't mean it's fair to leave it that way. Generally, when we make mistakes we try to fix them. You also can't blame people for not being able to afford the panels. We supply schools and hospital / medical services based on being a citizen no because you can afford xyz. getting a rebate because you could afford XYZ and having those that can't afford xyz isn't really found anywhere else in tax / business / society. BUT we all claim whatever we can n our taxes and there is no reason a person shouldn't have purchased the systems with the rebates etc.

The thing that erks me the most is companies charging higher rates to those with panels. We finally bought a house and the plan was to put panels on but now it looks like it's not really worth doing unless I can go off-grid altogether. mr Musk is already working on the Tesla Powerwall 2