With electricity costs steadily on the rise, Australian households and businesses are starting to feel the pinch. But there is a way to ease the pressure. Offering significant financial benefits, solar power’s one of the best ways to make a massive dent in your electricity bills. And if you’re living in Geraldton, Western Australia, now’s a great time to consider making the switch – here’s why.
Thanks to its position in sunny Western Australia, Geraldton is one of the sunniest locations in Australia. In fact, it receives an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine per day, with an average of 11 hours per day in January alone. Conditions like this make it the perfect place for solar power.
The solar system that’s right for you depends on your household or business size and energy needs. However, as a general guide, averaged out over a year, the average 3 person Australian household uses 20kWh of energy each day. If your household is a similar size, installing a 5kW solar PV system will generate around 20kWh per day – enough to cover your daily energy needs and slash your power bills in the process. Even if your energy needs are greater, installing a 5kW solar system will still significantly reduce the amount of electricity you purchase from the grid, and your electricity bills along with it.
Great question. Although households and businesses installing solar after August 2011 are no longer eligible for the government’s feed-in tariff scheme, there are still savings to be had. Solar systems installed after 2011 will either be subject to the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme or the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme.
Under the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS), for applications received up until 7 September, you’ll be paid for the power your PV system generates but doesn’t use. For those under REBS, the feed-in Tariff for Western Australian residents living in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) is 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour. For regional and remote Western Australians, their electricity provider is Horizon Power and have a feed-in tariff rate ranging from 7.1 cents to 51.0 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on location.
Under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS), for applications received after 7 September, you’ll be paid for the power your PV system generates but doesn’t use. For those under DEBS, the feed-in Tariff for all Western Australian residents is 10c per kWh for electricity exported to the electricity network between 3pm and 9pm and 3c per kWh for electricty exported to the electricity network before 3pm.
Until 6 November, DEBS customers will receive the current REBS rates for their exports – including any exports from batteries, giving DEBS households time to adjust to the new pricing and switch their electricity consumption to the middle of the day where they can, to make the most of their solar generation.
Under both of these schemes, the best option is to consume as much power as your system generates as possible. You’ll see a greater reduction in your power bills if you time the bulk of your consumption with your system’s peak production.
For many households and businesses, the upfront cost of a solar PV system can be overwhelming. But thanks to the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, it’s still within reach. When you purchase a solar PV system, you’ll receive a number of Small Scale Technology Certificates – also known as Renewable Energy Certificates or RECs – for every megawatt hour of power your system generates. If you purchase a small scale PV system, you’ll get all your RECs up front for the power your system’s expected to generate over the next 15 years. You can hold onto these certificates, but most people assign them to their solar retailer in exchange for a lower purchase price. In fact, you can do it with us. If you’d like to know more about how the scheme works, give us a call on 1300 074 669 or send us an email.
If your household or business is starting to feel the strain of rising electricity bills, it might be time to consider switching to solar. Thanks to its rising popularity, system prices are at an all-time low, making now a great time to buy.
For more information, or to book an obligation free solar site assessment, contact us today. We can advise on the best system for your needs and budget and stock a wide range of high quality, high performing brands. To get started, give us a call on 1300 074 669, email us at enquiries@infiniteenergy.com.au or request a call back today.
Office number: 1300 074 669
Office fax: (08) 9463 7864
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Office address: Suite 3, Level 3, 85 South Perth Esplanade, South Perth, WA 6151
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