Tasmanian households are racing to beat a deadline this week in order to secure the Apple Isle’s current generous solar feed in tariff rate.
Households only have a couple of days to submit feed in tariff applications in order to receive the feed-in tariff at the current 1:1 rate until 1 January, 2019.
Those missing the deadline will still be eligible for incentives; but at a greatly reduced level. A transitional feed-in tariff rate of 8 cents per KWh will be introduced from August 31 until December 2013.
According to solar provider Energy Matters, a 5.5kW system installed in Hobart or Launceston can generate enough electricity to provide approximately $1,600 in savings annually under the current feed in tariff rate; greatly accelerating the payback period compared to what it will be under the new transitional rate.
As well as offering special deals on outright purchases, Energy Matters is offering its zero-deposit Save As You Go payment plan to help more Tasmanians take advantage of current arrangements before the axe falls. The company will also assist with feed in tariff application preparation.
Energy Matters urges those interested in installing solar panels to call the company’s hotline on 1800 EMATTERS (133 786) today. Energy Matters has set its own deadline of close of business on August 29 (Thursday) to allow enough time for application preparation prior to the official August 30 close.
While solar irradiation levels in Tasmania may be less than in other parts of Australia, it still compares favourably for solar electricity production. According to Tasmania’s Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, a 2 kW solar panel system will generate around 7 kWh a day on average; just 1 kWh less a day than Sydney and 2 kWh a day more than the same system in Germany.
By the middle of last year, close to 16,000 kilowatts of PV based solar power systems had been installed in Tasmania.
