A Feed-in Tariff for Renewable Energy Systems

The Western Australian residential net feed-in tariff scheme commenced on 1 August 2010. The scheme pays owners of eligible renewable energy systems 40c per kilowatt hour (kWh) for energy exported to the grid that is in excess of the household consumption at the time of generation (as recorded by the meter).

The feed-in tariff is a separate scheme to the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme offered through Synergy and Horizon Power. The feed in tariff is a subsidy paid by the Government to make systems more affordable. The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme pays for the value of the electricity.

The Government has asked Synergy and Horizon Power to administer the feed in tariff scheme on its behalf, therefore both schemes are provided by your retailer. Both schemes are also paid on a net basis, the combined total of which will provide owners of renewable energy systems with at least 47c/kWh for exported energy.

Residential Net Feed-in Tariff Scheme

Scheme Design Parameters

• Rate - 40 c/kWh for net electricity exported to the grid. This rate is in addition to the Renewable Energy Buyback Schemes (REBS) offered through Synergy and Horizon Power.

• Payments will be made for 10 years or until the property is sold or leased, in which case the new owner or tenant receives the payments for the remainder of the duration.

• System size must be consistent with REBS which is 5kW for Synergy customers 10kW per phase (30kW in total) for Horizon Power customers (Horizon Power customers installing greater than 5kW must consult Horizon Power first). These are determined by the size of the inverter.

• The scheme will be reviewed every 3 years or 10MW of new generation to assess the ongoing level of support required in light of changing economics and technologies.

Eligibility

System

• Includes photovoltaic, wind and micro-hydro energy technologies. Emerging technologies may be included upon review.

• Includes existing systems.

• The system must be new, second hand systems are not eligible.

• The system must be owned by the home owner (includes tenanted properties where the home owner also owns the system. In this situation the tenant will receive the feed-in tariff).

• Systems installed from 1 August 2010 must be designed and installed by a Clean Energy Council accredited designer and installer.

Applicant

• The scheme is open to residential applicants only.

• The applicant must be the electricity account holder.

• The applicant must be eligible for and participate in the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS).

• An applicant can claim the feed-in tariff at only one property at any one time.