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Renewable Energy Tariffs in AustraliaOctober 31, 2008 There are currently no true renewable tariffs in Australia. However, several states have implemented or plan to implement modified net-metering programs that are touted as "feed-in tariffs". A grassroots movement in support of true feed-in tariffs is being led by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA). Here's a brief summary of the various proposals by ATA's Brad Shone. Federal GovernmentThe new Labor government campaigned on a "consistent national approach to feed-in tariffs". The Australian Coucil of Governments is preparing a report on Climate Change that will include a discussion of feed-in tariffs. However, no action is pending.
South AustraliaThe limited and timid program import-export metering of South Australia's state government has gone into effect. The program pays $0.44 AUD/kWh for any excess generation to small electricity customers for a period of 20 years.
TasmaniaOn October 31, 2008, Tasmanian Minister of Energy & Resources began circulating a discussion paper on whether the use of feed-in tariffs was a "useful pricing mechanism for encouraging the generation of renewable electricity at a household level". This is the first formal recognition of feed-in tariffs in Tasmania. Several other Australian states are debating various feed-in tariff proposals as is the federal government. QueenslandQueensland copied South Australia's program
VictoriaThe Victoria state government has proposed a policy to go into effect in 2009 that pays $0.60 AUD/kWh for excess generation for 15 years for PV system less than 2 kW in size only. The Victoria program is even more restrictive than the other states.
Australian Capital TerritoryThe parliament of the Capital Territory (Canberra) has passed the only true system of feed-in tariffs in Australia. As opposed to other programs paying for "excess" generation, the ACT's policy pays for "gross" generation, that is, all generation delivered for export. Further the ACT proposal is for all small-scale renewables, not just solar PV. The ACT tariff is 3.88 times the standard retail tariff or about $0.57 AUD/kWh for systems less than 10 kW in size. The tariff for systems 10 kW to 30 kW is 80% of the retail rate, and for systems greater than 30 kW the tariff is 75% of the retail rate. This tariff system resembles the early German system from 1991 to 2000 and the Spanish system up to 2007.
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