Solar customers in regional Queensland to get higher FiT in 2016/17

The solar feed-in tariff (FiT) for regional Queensland customers for the 2016/17 financial year will be AUD 0.074 per kWh (USD 0.053/EUR 0.047), up from AUD 0.063 in the current year through June, the Queensland government said last week.

The tariff is set by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA).

After the Queensland government's Queensland Solar Bonus Scheme was closed to new customers in June 2014, the QCA determines a mandatory FiT for regional Queensland each financial year. According to its final report, the higher tariff for 2016/17 is mainly due to an increase in the wholesale energy costs estimate to AUD 0.066 from AUD 0.056 in 2015/16.

"The QCA’s independent report ensures Queenslanders with solar panels receive a fair return for the energy they export to the grid by calculating the true market value of the energy," said Treasurer Curtis Pitt.

The report means retailers will be obliged to pay eligible customers the recommended FiT for the next financial year, said acting minister for energy Leeanne Enoch. She added that the government remained committed to the target of 1 million solar rooftops in Queensland by 2020.

Customers that get the AUD-0.44-per-kWh FiT under the Solar Bonus Scheme will not be impacted by the new tariff.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.716/EUR 0.640)

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