Lights Out for Solar
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur used a constituency question in Parliament to ask the Minister for Energy about the reduction in the minimum solar feed-in tariff.
Prior to the 2018 state election, the Labor Government promised to spend $1.3 billion to support the installation of rooftop solar on Victorian homes over the next 10 years.
Bev McArthur asked, "Why would you encourage homeowners to take up offers to assist with solar home installations but not ensure that homeowners can, first, connect to the grid and secondly, benefit from feed in tariffs?"
The feed-in tariff has been reduced by the Essential Services Commission for Victorian customers from 12 cents per kilowatt hour to 10.2 cents per kilowatt hour, effective 1 July.
Bev McArthur said in Parliament, “This is all while electricity costs are going through the roof in Victoria under the Labor Government.”
Mrs McArthur quoted a constituent of hers who asked, “What bubble … do these Public Servants live in?”
“Why should we get less for generating power whilst the state just allows electricity cost increases to go into the stratosphere?”
Mrs McArthur said, “I concur with my constituent and ask the minister on his behalf and mine: why has the solar feed-in tariff decreased while electricity prices have also increased?”
17 October 2020