Independent candidate for Monaro and Palerang councillor, Paul Cockram has called on the NSW government to clarify its position on grid-connect solar panels.
"The current legislation requires a review of the solar bonus scheme in July 2012 or when installed capacity reaches 50 megawatts, which ever comes first," Cr Cockram said. "It appears that installed capacity has already reached 30 megawatts."
"Most people who took advantage of the Federal government's solar rebate scheme factored into their investment decision the NSW government's feed-in tariff of 60 cents per kilowatt hour.
"Connecting solar panels to the electricity grid to get this attractive gross feed-in rate means customers must pay several hundred dollars for an electrician to install an extra meter," Cr Cockram pointed out.
Cr Cockram called on the NSW government to make its position clear on whether it will keep the gross feed-in tariff and at what rate.
"I urge both the NSW and Federal governments to maintain a steady commitment to the shift towards renewable energy,' he added. "Chopping and changing subsidies and schemes from day to day is not doing the best for the environment or energy consumers."
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