The Canberra Times reports on concerns by the ACT Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission that the feed-in tariff system (whereby you get paid for electricity your home generates in surplus to what it consumes) could come at a hefty price:
- Consumers will be forced to pay ”premium prices” to recover the program’s costs including $48million in additional electricity distribution charges years after it has been overtaken by more efficient, nationally consistent energy schemes.
The ACT Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has warned the tariff could push up the cost of other public utility services, such as water and waste water services, forcing businesses to move across the border to Queanbeyan, where costs are less.
Well who’da thunk it?
UPDATE: The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury is defending the tariff:
- “But it’s not the ICRC’s job to put a price on benefits to the community, and the feed-in tariff in particular will deliver more than just emissions reductions, it will also help grow local jobs in an industry of the future, and the beginnings of a decentralised energy system.”
“Stage 2 of the feed-in tariff will see large scale installation on the rooves of warehouses and shopping centres, and the cost to Canberrans will only be around an extra 65 cents a week.”
“Tackling climate change will cost money in the short term, but not taking action will be far more costly – and early action to insulate ourselves from rising electricity prices will pay off in the longer term.”
“The Greens are calling on the Government to ensure that low income families are protected from the price rises by lifting the energy concession rate, which has been dropping in real terms over the past 5 years.” said Mr Rattenbury.
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