Comments on: Sunny days for your electricity bill, if the pols get it right http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:29:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ray Bange http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/#comment-2643 Ray Bange Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-2643 Quite apart from inequities that result from different patterns of use, the import-export model is actually a disincentive for anyone producing power unless the cost of production is less than the normal tariff. Most renewable sources are small scale solar or similar systems, so this is the usual situation. Since the power used is subtracted from the power generated to arrive at a net output (or input) this means that for most household producers, they effectively will be paying for their own power use at a higher rate than the normal grid rate. Who in their right mind would want to invest in something that results in their paying more for their power than they would by simply connecting to the grid? Whoever thinks this is an incentive needs their head read and should be fired. Poor policy thinking indeed! Quite apart from inequities that result from different patterns of use, the import-export model is actually a disincentive for anyone producing power unless the cost of production is less than the normal tariff. Most renewable sources are small scale solar or similar systems, so this is the usual situation.

Since the power used is subtracted from the power generated to arrive at a net output (or input) this means that for most household producers, they effectively will be paying for their own power use at a higher rate than the normal grid rate. Who in their right mind would want to invest in something that results in their paying more for their power than they would by simply connecting to the grid?

Whoever thinks this is an incentive needs their head read and should be fired. Poor policy thinking indeed!

]]> By: Gordon http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/#comment-2644 Gordon Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-2644 At the age of 70 I'm unlikely to see the break-even point so will give it a miss. At the age of 70 I’m unlikely to see the break-even point so will give it a miss.

]]> By: Kevin Forward http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/#comment-2645 Kevin Forward Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-2645 I really wonder why anyone would put their name on an article such as this which has so many errors in it that it is meaningless drivel. Feed in tariff rates are what they are called - rates you are paid for the power you feed into the grid. I am not too sure of the origins of this myth that in other countries they are rates you are paid for the power you generate whether you use it in your home or factory or whether you export it to the grid. The truth is that in Germany or any other international country you are only paid for what you put into the grid. If the readers if Crikey.com are interested in the German system they should look at http://www.wind-works.org/FeedLaws/Germany/ARTsDE.html and see that feed in means just that. I really wonder why anyone would put their name on an article such as this which has so many errors in it that it is meaningless drivel. Feed in tariff rates are what they are called - rates you are paid for the power you feed into the grid. I am not too sure of the origins of this myth that in other countries they are rates you are paid for the power you generate whether you use it in your home or factory or whether you export it to the grid. The truth is that in Germany or any other international country you are only paid for what you put into the grid. If the readers if Crikey.com are interested in the German system they should look at http://www.wind-works.org/FeedLaws/Germany/ARTsDE.html and see that feed in means just that.

]]> By: Peter Doherty http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/#comment-2646 Peter Doherty Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-2646 Well, Gordon, that's a real public-spirited approach. Here's a response in a similar tone of voice - Let's hope you die soon and stop wasting our oxygen. Well, Gordon, that’s a real public-spirited approach. Here’s a response in a similar tone of voice - Let’s hope you die soon and stop wasting our oxygen.

]]> By: Ray Bange http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/30/sunny-days-for-your-electricity-bill-if-the-pols-get-it-right/#comment-2647 Ray Bange Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-2647 To clarify a point in my earlier post, I notice a small omission ...that is, the cost of smaller producers is usually higher that the cost from the grid and so household production will be more expensive. To clarify a point in my earlier post, I notice a small omission …that is, the cost of smaller producers is usually higher that the cost from the grid and so household production will be more expensive.

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