Electricity and Other Legislation (Batteries and Premium Feed-in Tariff) Amendment Bill 2018
Bill Journey
Referred to State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee
Referred to Agriculture and Environment Committee
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill makes three changes to Queensland electricity laws: it clarifies when Solar Bonus Scheme customers can add batteries without losing their 44c/kWh feed-in tariff, it enables apartment and caravan park residents to choose their own electricity retailer, and it allows regional small customers to return to Ergon Retail after switching to a private retailer.
Who it affects
Solar Bonus Scheme customers (around 240,000 households) can now add batteries with certainty. Embedded network residents in apartments and caravan parks gain retail choice. Regional households and small businesses can return to Ergon Retail.
Solar Bonus Scheme and batteries
Clarifies the rules for Solar Bonus Scheme customers who want to install batteries or additional solar panels. Customers can add batteries or generators that only operate at night without losing their 44c/kWh feed-in tariff, but cannot install systems that export to the grid or run simultaneously with their qualifying solar system.
- Batteries can be installed if they only supply the home when the solar system is not generating
- Additional generators can be added if they do not export to the grid or run at the same time as the solar panels
- Existing customers who have already installed batteries or oversized their systems are protected
- Customers cannot 'oversize' solar panels beyond their inverter's rated capacity
Embedded network competition
Enables electricity customers in embedded networks (apartments, caravan parks, retirement villages) to choose their own retailer under a new national framework. These customers also gain access to the Energy and Water Ombudsman for dispute resolution.
- Embedded network customers can now choose any authorised electricity retailer
- Customers in embedded networks can access the Energy and Water Ombudsman
- Queensland legislation aligned with National Electricity Rules changes from December 2017
Regional customer choice
Removes the 'non-reversion policy' that prevented small customers in regional Queensland from returning to Ergon Retail after switching to a private retailer. Large customers remain subject to the policy.
- Small customers who switched to a private retailer can return to Ergon Retail
- New occupants at properties where previous occupants switched can now choose Ergon
- Large customers remain subject to the non-reversion policy to maintain competition