Anger as solar faces the chop
TWEED residents who invested in the Solar Bonus Scheme are furious at an announcement by the State Government that their tariff payments could be reduced by 20c per kilowatt hour.
The government recently axed the scheme, introduced by the former Labor government, after a blow-out in costs meant everyday households not hooked up to solar power could be hit with an extra $170 per year to cover the costs of the scheme.
To limit the cost burden, customers who receive a 60c tariff could now only receive 40c for the remainder of the scheme meaning many will struggle to repay the thousands of dollars they spent to install the technology.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest acknowledged yesterday that the decision was very unpopular.
“But the alternative of whacking $170 on everyone if it (the scheme) kept going isn't acceptable either,” Mr Provest said.
He said he was looking forward to meeting with other state members in Sydney next Tuesday to discuss the government's options.
“A solution would be to allow a little more time to phase these changes in,” he said.
The changes are expected to take effect on July 1 this year.
