Barry its time to make a decision

Since April 29 2011, the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme has been closed. This means there is no incentive for home owners or businesses to install solar power; and companies like Aussie Solar have not had a customer in over 2 months and have made 26 staff redundant.

Quite simply: no policy = no installations = no jobs = no industry

In Australia we are fortunate to have the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world. However, the present actions of the NSW Government threaten to destroy an industry with enormous potential to be part of the solution in achieving a sustainable future. Given that the onset of the federal carbon tax will undoubtedly increase the cost of non-renewable energy, surely solar represents a viable option for those families who wish to reduce their energy bill in the long term.

The solar industry is being blamed for rising electricity prices, even though Professor Ross Garnaut recognised that the main cause of the price rises is a massive surge in electricity infrastructure investment, much of which has been deemed unnecessary. Andrew Reeves, chairman of the Australian Energy Regulator also agreed with this.

Premier O’Farrell has also been very vocal in his warnings about faulty installations, however it can be argued that every industry has faulty goods and/or services and usually the company that has sold them rectifies the problem without persecution. There is no need to create widespread panic insinuating that the industry is made up of dodgy operators and every installation is going to erupt in flames.

Currently, the solar industry is being audited by the Clean Energy Council, Department of Fair Trading and Office of Renewable Energy. Installation companies are doing the right thing. Did you know installers undergo 4 years or education and training before becoming Licensed Electricians? They are more than qualified to correctly install solar power systems.

Perhaps part of the issue is that because the solar industry is in its infancy more research and investment is needed before solar power installation is highly efficient. But that will come with time, like any other industry which has started out.

So Premier O’Farrell will you lead us into the future?

Without a feed in tariff home owners will be producing and exporting energy to the grid for electricity companies free of charge, whilst their own bills are not credited. Thus providing no incentive what so ever to install solar power.
So far, Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher’s 40,000 additional installations, has not provided the ongoing income and certainty as claimed. At this point in time, Aussie Solar no longer have any installations scheduled and considering many other companies are making staff redundant or closing their doors, it seems these installation companies don’t know where the additional 40,000 installations are either.

Aussie Solar acknowledges the unsustainability of previous feed in tariffs, all we ask is that home owners are guaranteed to be included in future schemes so they are not penalised for taking up solar power now.

Premier O’Farrell it’s time to make a decision now.