SA network wants solar homes to pay $100/year more for grid

roman May 29, 2015

SA Power Networks (SAPN), which operates the poles and wires that deliver electricity to homes and businesses throughout the state, and is owned by ASX-listed Spark Infrastructure, says all consumers will receive price reductions in the coming year on their network costs.

But while most households will receive a discount of $188 a year on their network costs, and “vulnerable” homes a saving of $388 a year, the 175,000 solar households in the state will only receive a discount of $88 a year.

SAPN justifies this by saying that solar households still need as much power from the network at peak times as other users, even if they use less electricity from the grid during the day when the sun shines.

Attempts to penalize solar households have been already rebuffed in QLD and WA; it would be a shame if SA allowed this discrimination.

Nigel Morris of Slar Business systems outlines why this is misdirected in an article in the Climate Spectator.

Solar Citizens have initiated a petition to stop the discrimination against solar panel owners.

Solar Citizens is an independent community based organisation bringing together millions of solar owners and supporters to protect and grow solar in Australia.Since starting in May 2013, Solar Citizens has grown to over 60,000 supporters around the country, representing the more that 5 million solar owners in Australia and the millions more who wish to go solar.

Climate, Old_Notes

SA coalition against the nuclear Royal Commission

robyn May 28, 2015

You are warmly invited to a meeting for everyone who cares about the Royal commission to plan our campaign strategy.

Hosted by NOWPA and friends

Tuesday 2nd June 5pm – 7pm

Upstairs, Prince Albert Hotel

254 Wright St Adelaide

All welcome

Drinks and dinner available

FoE

Please make a submission – attack on environment groups

robyn May 14, 2015

(Another) attack on environment groups

Submitted by Cam Walker on Tue, 21/04/2015 – 15:41

The Coalition government is trying to silence anyone who stands up for the environment.

Some of their actions include:

The new Standing Committee on the Environment review of tax deductibility for environment groups listed on the Minister’s Register (see below).
The push by Minister Richard Colbeck for a secondary boycott ban to apply to environmental groups.
The recently released ‘Re:think, Better Tax system Better Australia’ discussion paper which calls for a review of the Not for Profit sector’s tax deductibility.
The cuts to the Environment Defenders Office (EDOs).
The government has axed the Grants to Voluntary Environment, Sustainability and Heritage Organisations to 150 groups in the 2014 budget. This program had bipartisan support since it was set up in the 1970s.

Is the new Inquiry the government’s chance to take green groups tax status off them?

It has been announced that the House of Representatives Environment Committee will hold an inquiry into environmental groups who are eligible to receive Tax-deductible donations.

While the chair of the Committee has assured us ‘it’s not a witch hunt’, it is hard to see this as anything but another part of theideological attack on the environment movement being waged by the Abbott government.

The Committee says “over 600 environmental groups are currently deductible gift recipients (DGRs). This allows them to access tax-deductible donations to fund important, practical work to improve the natural environment. We need to ensure that tax deductible donations, which are a generous concession from the taxpayer, are used for the purpose intended and expected by the community.”

[Above: the FoE International meeting in Sri Lanka, 2014. The environment needs strong voices.]

The terms of reference suggest that activities which involve on-ground environmental works constitute ‘appropriate’ activity.

FoE