Solar Citizens is asking Australian solar households to stand up and count themselves in with a solar survey.
5 million Australians are living under a solar panel array. While the rooftop revolution has gained momentum, we cannot assure a bright future. Powerful interests still want to hamstring the growth of solar in Australia.
The grassroots group says to grow and protect Australian solar, supporters must organise better than the technology’s opponents.
Solar survey
In order to make its campaigns in the year ahead as effective as possible, Solar Citizens is asking Australians to spare 10 minutes to complete its 2015 Supporter Survey. The survey isn’t just for owners of solar power systems, but also those who support the technology.
“The information you contribute will help us represent your interests better to our politicians, it will help us give a voice to solar owners and supporters in the media and most importantly, it will help us reach more Australians who have solar, want solar or support solar,” says Clare O’Rourke, Solar Citizens National Director.
The group has grown rapidly since it launched in 2013 with the support of organizations and companies including Energy Matters. An offshoot of 100% Renewable; there are now 60,000 members of Solar Citizens and basic membership is free.
Among the group’s recent activities was providing evidence at a Federal Senate Inquiry on behalf of 550 solar homeowners who believe they have been mistreated by electricity companies due to having installed solar panels in Australia.
“Our hope is that this inquiry will make strong recommendations to prevent discriminatory and unfair actions against solar owners and help all Australians households with the rising cost of power prices.” Ms. O’Rourke said.
She also called on Federal and State Governments to support lower income families with the rising power bills. The optimal way she sees is by investing in renewable energy. This is following media reports soaring power costs have led to a record number of disconnections in Victoria.
According to the Victorian Council of Social Service, the rate of wrongful disconnections of Victorian energy customers has increased six-fold since 2010. Disconnections of electricity customers hit a new record in FY 2013/14, with more than 34,000 homes having their power cut off.
