Victorian solar households that are customers of electricity retailer Simply Energy have been unfairly targeted says Solar Citizens.
It appears in early January, Simply Energy quietly introduced a 14c-a-day levy on Victorian owners of solar power systems; which works out to an extra $51 on top of what non-solar customers pay.
“What makes things even worse is that Energy Minister Northe has teamed up with Simply Energy to endorse the solar charge claiming on Twitter that because ‘poles and wires cost money’ solar customers should pay more for them. It’s disgraceful,” says Solar Citizens National Director, Lindsay Souter.
“We know what this charge is really designed to do. By allowing unfair and unreasonable charges to be slapped on Victorian solar users, the government is looking to help big energy retailers like Simply Energy discourage people from going solar and grab even more money along the way.”
Solar Citizens points out that while solar households bring many benefits to the grid – including reducing the need for ‘poles and wires’ – customers such as air-conditioner users who make more demands on the grid have not been singled out. Air-conditioner usage is one of the main reasons infrastructure needs to be upgraded and has led to the ‘gold-plating‘ of networks.
Simply Energy is the retail arm of GDF Suez; which is also the owner of the Hazelwood power plant and coal mines that caught fire earlier this year; belching toxic smoke for months that sickened some in neighbouring Morwell.
With at least 430,000 solar voters across Victoria and an election in November, Ms. Souter says this is an opportunity to bring pressure upon Premier Napthine and Energy Minister Northe to act to protect solar owners and Solar Citizens has launched a petition in relation to the issue.
“Ask Premier Napthine and Minister North who they stand with – the big power companies, or the people?”
SolarCitizens is a grass-roots group that seeks to protect the rights of current and future solar owners. It is an offshoot of 100% Renewable – a community organisation helping to move Australia toward a renewable energy future.
