Just signed my contract today.
But was very surprised at the conditions that contract puts on me.
NSW is my home state, my plan is for two KW producing about 8.5 units a day, on average.
Now my daily use, daylight hours is about 4 units.
I will be paid, under NSW legislation, 6 cents a unit for every unused unit .
But charged so I am informed 40 cents per unit,for every one used at night.
I have a battery backed installation, it blackout proofs me and runs some lights and my ham radios.
But had thought the unused units would come of one for one, my nightly use.
We all could ask if the unit price is 6 cents per unit why bother producing more only to see others get the profits.
And remember my extra produced power, will be sold to those who want to use green based power at a higher rate.
Too if it costs 6 cents why are we paying what I thought was 34 cents but have been informed will be 40 in a month and 60, withing 3 years?
I found reason no to take the 1.5 KW because while I am paying over the average costs in this state I can use some of that extra power rather than gift it to commercial owners of NSW power sold by our dysfunctional NSW FILTH parliament.
PS my location will see me produce much more than what I said but it remains a question, others get big pay for feed in I never wanted to make money from it but just to save bills.

Communism ... the government will forcibly screw you.

Socialism ... everybody will screw everybody else, sponsored by the government.

Capitalism ... business and the government will screw you.

Result? No matter what system you're under, and no matter what service you use ... you're screwed.

Human nature.

I as my act in asking these questions shows, do not know much about it.
Thought I did.
Howard first got it rolling and I found the initial costs to high.
Others filled roof tops, both under Howard and Labor, with them,in northern NSW up to thirty on roofs that no longer have any one under them.
60 cents a unit always seemed like the many paying for the few.
Abbott says he wants another million homes across Australian to have it.
NSW has been blighted by the artificial price rise the last [ALP] government put on power to make us forever pay for the privatization of power.
And increase profits therefore value to buy, that power.
Two things need addressing, provided we are willing to ignore those cashing in,at the expense of powder consumers.
Why did I or would anyone, put in more panels of what I can use in daylight hours? knowing the 6 cents I receive is well theft.
And as increasing consumers seal refuge from ever increasing power costs, industry too, why stall the installation or maybe stop it all together of clean energy?
If I produce more than I use in daylight, and not over all as much as I use.
Then surely my made power is mine? why force me to put it back at 5 times the price I got for it?

Maybe it is me who did not float not the subject.
I can live with that.
Environmentalists however surprise me.
If other states are doing what mine is a disincentive exists to putting other than minimum on the roof.
I see one point five KW as worthwhile but clearly nothing more.
BUT spent an extra $1.000 to get the extra half.
That gives me, in this mad house state the pleasure of buying back each night, power I produced and was paid 6 cents a unit for.
For 40 cents?
Bet if it was a federal thing both sides would use it , improving it, as voter bait.
Why did I bother? last spend up from my hard earned and it seems we should practice what we preach and who knows?
Sanity may come in the future.
Price rises to buy will so why not let me use all the power I make? maybe one day.

I'm curious about how the tariff agreement is worded, Belly...

Seems ridiculously unfair. Is the document available on-line?

Hi Belly,

To your question “Solar Power worth it or not?”

The answer is obviously yes whilst ever those who don’t have it are paying for yours.

I’m not convinced you understand what you have bought; either that or you have been shafted.

I pay 11c per Kw/h for off peak (hot water, pool pump, irrigation pump) I pay 22c per Kw/h for normal tariff. I get paid 44c per Kw/h for everything we generate over what we use.

We run the dishwasher and washing machine before or after sun up because we don’t want to use our own electricity at 44c when we can do it for 22c.

We have a 2.5 Kw/h system, averages 12.5 units per day. I was in credit from March 2012 until this last quarter when my bill was $54.65. Annual electricity bill $54.65.

Many thanks to Julia Gillard, Bob Brown and Greg Combet for the CO2 tax which charges the rest of you for my cheap energy.

I love to see great thinkers and massive intellects like these in action. Doh!