ACT NOW - 4th July 2012

The Queensland government recently announced changes to the four-year-old Solar Bonus Scheme; those Queenslanders who install solar panels and then provide power back to the grid will have their exported solar electricity prices slashed from 44 cents per kilowatt-hour, down to 8 cents.

Customers who lodge an Inverter Energy System (IES) connection application with an electricity network distributor before midnight on 9 July 2012 will be assessed against eligibility criteria for the existing scheme and, if deemed eligible, will receive the 44 cents per kilowatt-hour feed-in tariff rate.

 Customers who lodge an IES connection application after midnight on 9 July 2012 will be assessed against eligibility criteria for the replacement feed-in tariff and, if deemed eligible, will receive the 8 cents per kilowatt-hour rate.

“You will find the application on our web page, or come into our office and discuss your application with our friendly staff. You will need an electricity bill and a rates notice to complete the application. If there are two stakeholders on the application both will need to sign the application,” said Sarah Harlen, NQ Solar, Branch Manager.

Existing Solar Bonus Scheme participants will continue to receive the current 44 cents per kilowatt-hour feed-in tariff so long as they continue to meet eligibility criteria.

Under changes to legislation planned for later in the year, eligibility for the 44 cents rate will cease if the existing participant ceases to be the electricity account holder for the eligible premises (for example, sells or rents out the property), or fails to install the system by 30 June 2013.

NQ Solar is a local company who supply and install grid connected solar systems. Unlike other companies who just sell solar, NQ Solar have been an electrical company since 1996. They have been a Clean Energy Council Accredited Solar Installer since 2007.

NQ Solar is responsible for nearly 5 megawatts of solar installed in Northern Queensland. 461 megawatts have been installed in Queensland to date.