Two recent energy market developments show we’re still a long way from where we need to be on consumer engagement and integration of home solar and battery storage.
Sun taxes and surprise tariffs: Why alienate consumers right when we need them most?
Policy
Will consumers trust someone else to automate their EV and home batteries?
Grid access to valuable home and EV battery capacity depends on customers being willing to hand over control. To date, that’s not happening in Australia.
Victoria is raising rental efficiency standards – it’s good news for tenants and the environment
Victorian government's proposed new minimum standards will greatly improve quality and comfort of rental housing. They will also make it cheaper to live in.
Rooftop solar tariffs trimmed, but impact unclear as Sun Tax looms
IPART lowers recommended benchmark for solar feed-in tariffs, again, but will consult again in September to see how the land lies after solar export charges hit.
Solar tax: A kick in the guts to consumers, and a step backwards for the grid
Penalising the export of solar will slow down the shift to zero emissions electricity grid we urgently need. There are better ways to manage the rooftop PV load.
Home battery rebate up to $2,400 unveiled, one day after deal to keep coal plant burning
New South Wales government announces home battery rebate of up to $2,400 for existing solar homes and a reward for battery owners who join virtual power plants.
New government grants to help business ditch gas for efficient electric alternatives
New scheme offers up to $60,000 per site – or $66,000 for regional sites – for feasibility studies into cutting gas usage by switching to efficient electric alternatives.
State energy efficiency rebates to focus on electrification and getting homes off gas
State budgets $5.9m for strategic review of long-running energy efficiency rebate, to focus it on helping households and businesses to get off gas.
Solar apartments: State opens offer of up to $100,000 to install shared rooftop PV
Solar for Apartments Program offers up to $100,000 to eligible bodies corporate, 50% as a grant and the other 50% a repayable, zero-interest loan.
Home electrification rebate flooded with interest as gas exodus gears up
State government-backed rebate designed to install bulk residential rooftop PV and electric hot water has attracted bids for almost four times the funding on offer.
Landlords join call for rebates to help renters and apartments get solar and go electric
People who live in apartments are less likely to benefit from solar power or efficient electric appliances and they need targeted help, a conference has heard.
Home battery rebate gets major boost as demand for solar storage surges
Huge demand sees another $6 million added to the budget for the Battery Booster rebate, which offers an up to $4,000 discount on home energy storage.
Germany simplifies rules for hundreds of thousands of “balcony” solar systems
German regulators have simplified the registration of plug-in balcony solar PV units or 'balcony power plants' in the face of huge demand.
Booming heat pump hot water market prompts crackdown on compliance and safety
Inspections and audits of newly installed heat pump hot water systems are expected to ramp up across Victoria to ensure standards are being met.
If you’ve got a dark roof, you’re spending almost $700 extra a year to keep your house cool
Cool roofs have many benefits, including to boost aircon efficiency and make solar work more efficiently. So why is this being ignored in Australia's major cities?
Heat pump rebates in “huge demand” as households get rid of gas hot water
"Heat pump hot water systems have never been more popular." With applications coming in at a rate of 700 a week, 8,000 more rebates have been added to meet demand.
