5 cents per kilowatt hour electricity doesn’t have to be a misty-eyed, nostalgia-laced memory says national solar power solutions provider Energy Matters.
With residential mains electricity now costing up to 52c a kilowatt hour in Australia – among the highest prices in the world – it’s little wonder the issue has become a major focus for many households.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, between June 2007 and June 2012, retail electricity prices increased by 84% in Melbourne and 79% in Sydney. In fact, the lowest retail rate increases in Australia’s capital cities were still substantial – Darwin at 42% and Canberra at 45% – and all regional areas throughout the nation were also hit particularly hard.
But the price hikes didn’t stop in June – in July, further increases placed additional strain on household finances.
As well as simple energy efficiency strategies to reduce consumption, Energy Matters points out just how cheap solar electricity is to generate when calculated over the expected life of a system comprised of quality components and properly installed. This is thanks in part to what remains of the Solar Credits subsidy; an incentive that will disappear next year, or sooner if some have their way.
Energy Matters is currently offering special deals on 4kW solar panel systems that can provide 70 – 80% of an average household’s electricity consumption. With just 4.5 sun hours a day; the company’s high efficiency systems can generate clean electricity for as little as 5.13 cents per kilowatt hour based on the special “buy outright” price Energy Matters is offering, which includes professional installation.
“By shifting major load usage to times when your solar power system is generating electricity, your direct consumption will be costing as little as this amount and depending on the state where the system is installed, households can be credited far more than 5c per kilowatt hour for any surplus electricity generated under feed in tariff incentives,” says the company.
Energy Matters points out that if sub-6 cent per kilowatt hour electricity seems low now compared to the 19 – 52c Australian families are currently paying, it will seem even cheaper in the years ahead if electricity prices continue to rise.
The 4kW system deal is available for purchase online from Energy Matters’ web site, or by calling the company on 133 SUN. Energy Matters also offers payment plan options and a wide range of other systems in various configurations.
