Queenslanders with solar panels on their roofs could soon be charged for the energy they produce.
The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) has suggested a gross feed-in tariff scheme for households with rooftop solar power.
The scheme would see these households sell all of their energy to the grid and then buy it back at a more expensive retail rate.
Currently the feed-in tariff allows households to use what energy they generate and sell the excess energy back to the grid.
The current feed-in tariff works as a generous incentive for Queenslanders to take up solar power and begin generating their own electricity.
Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh says the QCA’s proposed scheme would “rob” households of the chance to save money by generating their own power.
“The scheme would see households sell their electricity to the grid for eight cents per kilowatt hour and buy it back at anywhere between 17 and 35 cents,” said Mr Marsh.
QCA Chairman Brian Parmenter said the scheme is just one of many changes to be considered after public consultation.
The QCA’s draft report is due in late November, with the final report to be released in March 2013.
