Residential renewable energy producers of the NT currently enjoy an equitable 1:1 feed in tariff for energy these producers provide to the publicly owned Jacana Energy.

Under cover of COVID-19 stimulus packages, the Northern Territory Labor government has decided to gut the Feed In Tariff to just 8.3c.

This is a cut of over 66%.

This applies to all new solar installations. 

People with existing solar installations will continue to receive the full 1:1 Feed In Tariff. You have to wonder; for how long this will continue?

This creates a two tiered system; the haves, and the have nots.

A further issue is that in these unprecedented times all energy sold at 8.3c to Jacana will instantly be sold to other customers at great profit to Jacana, with no climate or societal benefits.

The new Battery Subsidy is being used as the thin edge of the wedge. This subsidy will only be available to 130 households. Why is this not being made available to everyone who has made an investment in our zero carbon future?

The NT has one of the highest uptakes of residential solar in Australia. One important reason for the high uptake is because of the equitable 1:1 FiT.

The NT solar industry employs a large number of people from many small to medium businesses. This cut to the Feed in Tariff will cripple growth in the industry, and leave many in the industry unemployed.

The recent Home Improvement Scheme explicitly excluded new solar installations.

We call on the Territory Labor government to do the following:

• Scrap all plans to introduce the inequitable, two tier Feed In Tariff.
• Expand the Home Improvements Scheme to include all solar and battery systems.
• Keep the $6000 battery subsidy and apply it to all new solar and battery installations.
• Ensure all 130 subsidised battery system are required to participate in a Virtual Power Plant arrangement as done in South Australia.
• Allow commercial customers to access 1:1 Feed in Tariffs.