Rooftop solar power is no longer a 'middle class fortune' - now a windfall for power companies, says Conservation Council
Queenslanders with rooftop solar panels are effectively subsidizing power companies, according to Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) energy engineers. Key points: Energy retailers save millions of dollars per month because of rooftop solar, says Conservation Council Loganholme resident David Baggs says feed-in rates are “bad” The Australian Energy Council says feed-in rates are already high enough The feed-in rates paid to households exporting electricity are well below wholesale prices, meaning retailers save millions of dollars per month, said QCC energy strategist Clare Silcock. “Because the prices are so high, we’re seeing massive subsidies,” Silcock said. “It’s a bit of a change from what we’ve heard historically – that feed-in tariffs have benefited the middle class and channeled subsidies to people who can afford to install solar panels on their roofs.” In Loganholme, south of Brisbane, David Baggs earns 7 cents per kilowatt hour for the electricity he delivers to the grid.