The Solar Rates business case presents an independent and objective analysis of the costs and benefits of a state-wide solar finance program that assists low income households in Victoria to access solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The project analyses the economic, regulatory and technical viability of council rates charges and other low income solar finance options, develops a recommended program model, and establishes its business case. The project supports one of ten priority actions in EAGA’s Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap and has been undertaken in two phases.
Phase I
EAGA partnered with the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) and engaged the Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) to deliver the project on behalf of all Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, with funding from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). The final business case report and accompanying tool are available from the below links.
Phase II
EAGA secured a $60,700 grant from Local Government Victoria to undertake a second phase of the Solar Rates business case. EAGA continued its strategic partnership with NAGA to undertake the initiative and engaged Urban EP to deliver the works. The main objectives of Phase II were to:
- Inform council advocacy relating to the Review of the Local Government Act and assist legislators in their redrafting of the Act’s provisions relating to the use of rates charges
- Assist Councils and other partners to design and establish a ‘shared service’ to deliver large scale solar rates programs within Victoria
- Assist local and state government to establish finance mechanisms (such as rates charges and a default fund) to provide financier confidence and catalyse uptake of PV systems on low income homes
The below final report presents a number of targeted recommendations to assist local government, state government and the finance sector to work together in an integrated approach to effectively scale-up a program to 52,000 households.
Other key documents:
Solar PV for Low income Households Directions Paper (PDF, 1 MB)
Urban EP Presentation 18 Oct 2016 – cross sector leaders forum (PDF, 1 MB)
Urban EP Presentation Solar Rates Forum Oct 2016 (PDF, 1 MB)
MEFL Presentation EAGA Solar Rates Forum Dec 2015 (PDF, 913 KB)
To find out more, please contact our Regional Coordinator here.