Moreland Energy Foundation

What you need to know

Yesterday, the Victorian Government announced that it will close the Premium Feed-in Tariff when the scheme hits its cap. This is expected to occur towards the end of November this year.

If you have recently installed solar, paid a deposit or purchased a solar system, but have not yet finalised all the arrangements to receive the Premium Feed-in Tariff -  read on!

Below are detailed instructions on what you need to do to have the best chance of getting in before the scheme closes.

If you're about to install solar, the Government has said you're unlikely to get in before the cap is reached. Instead, you may be eligible for a Transitional Feed-in Tariff at a lower rate of 25c. There's more information about this transitional arrangement below.

Oh, and if you're already receiving the Premium Feed-in Tariff have no fear! This announcement doesn't affect you at all. You will continue to receive the Premium Feed-in Tariff for fifteen years or (depending on when your system was installed) until the end of the scheme in 2024.

MEFL Media Release, 1 September 2011

The Baillieu Government has announced that it will significantly reduce support for solar, phasing out the premium feed-in tariff and replacing it with a much lower 25 cent ‘transitional’ tariff from 1 January 2012.
Moreland Energy Foundation’s Energy Policy Advocate Eli Court expressed disappointment at the decision.

Letter to the Editor

RE: Test backs Brunswick power site (Moreland Leader, March 14)

There is an alternative to expanding the Brunswick Power Terminal and similar existing electricity stations across Melbourne. But it will take vision and commitment from government and business.

As energy demand rises, we face a choice: either continue expanding the big, ugly, expensive terminals for the delivery of coal-fired power, or develop distributed energy systems and improve the efficiency of our homes and workplaces.

Though coal remains comparatively cheap for now, the movement to put a price on carbon will put upward pressure on coal-generated power.

Small and medium sized distributed energy systems – which use efficient technologies like solar panels or natural-gas turbines near the point of energy consumption - are increasingly becoming attractive alternatives.

This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff. Distributed energy networks are already providing almost half of Denmark’s energy needs. All that is required is stable, long-term and progressive policy from government.

Paul Murfitt, CEO Moreland Energy Foundation

MEFL Media Release 15 June 2011

A community bulk-buy program backed by inner-Melbourne councils is helping residents navigate the complexities surrounding rebates and incentives available for solar installations. The Delivering Clean Energy Solutions (DCES) program offers competitive deals on high-quality solar hot water systems and solar electricity panels.

Sydney City Council launched its Decentralised Energy Trigeneration Masterplan last week, a key plank in its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the municipal area by 70% below 2006 levels by 2030.  See MEFL's fact sheet for some background information about decentralised energy.

Under the Masterplan, 65% of central Sydney's commercial floor space, 50% of all retail floor space and 30% of all residential floor space would be connected to low emissions tri-generation energy supply, transforming these high energy and carbon intense areas into 'low carbon infrastructure zones'.  These buildings would also receive heating and cooling services, produced by capturing the waste heat from electricity production, from the same tri-generation plants.