https://ndh.org.au/news/australians-with-rooftop-solar-panels-could-soon-be-char...Australians with rooftop solar panels could soon be charged for exporting power into the grid, under proposed changes
Posted March 25, 2021
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Australians with rooftop solar panels could soon be charged for exporting electricity to the grid, under new rules being recommended by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC).
AEMC chief executive Ben Barr said the electricity grid was struggling to cope with the changing power landscape, which was generating more solar energy than ever before.
About 20 per cent of all customers now partly meet their electricity needs through rooftop solar power generation, up from just 0.2 per cent in 2007.
Charging solar owners ‘inequitable’
There has also been some strong opposition to the introduction of any export charges, including from solar panel owners.
In a submission to the AEMC during consultation, community group Solar Citizens said introducing a fee was not justified.
“It is inequitable to charge solar owners when generators in the transmission network are not charged for accessing the network,” the submission said.
The AEMC’s draft determination is out for public consultation until May 13, with a final determination to be handed down in June.
Mr Barr said the implementation of any changes could be years away.
“The consultation with the poles and wires businesses and the Australian Energy Regulator signing off on any changes will take over 12 [months] to two years,” he said.
“So we’re not talking about a big blanket change coming in overnight.”