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"SHINE ON" STOP PRESS

NSW FEED-IN-TARIFF COMING SOON

On June 23 the State government announced that the long awaited NSW Feed in Tariff (FIT) will begin January 1, 2010. This is exciting news for all our Shine On Bulk Buy members and all of the customers who have previously installed grid connected solar PV systems on their homes and businesses.

The FIT is a mandatory 60 cent per kilowatt hour reward for excess solar energy exported to the grid and means that your household could benefit by several hundred extra dollars per year on top of what was expected when the bulk buy project began. And if you reduce your energy use through out the day when your solar system is operating at its peak you will reap even more returns.

The NSW FIT will be available for households, community groups, churches, some schools and small business. Micro wind is currently under review for inclusion in the FIT in the future.

UPGRADE NOW?

If you selected the larger inverter to accommodate extra solar panels at a later stage, now is the time to consider this option. Pyramid Power will hold the pricing of the Shine On Bulk Buy Offer until your installation takes place. You can also upgrade your 1kW system with a 2kW inverter or expand to a full 1.5-2 kW system. This price freeze is for existing members only, and at least 2 weeks notice is required before installation to organise the changes.

PAY BACK ON SOLAR SYSTEMS PLUMMETS!!!

The average net cost of a 1kW Shine On Bulk Buy Solar system was about $1700.00. The pay back periods prior to the NSW FIT were expected to be in the order of 4-5 years on that figure. Now with the tariff in place this could be as low as 2 years. Solar Energy has never looked brighter.

Important Announcement

IF PYRAMID POWER HAD YOUR SOLAR ELECTRICITY REBATE FORMS ON OR BEFORE JUNE 9 THEY HAVE BEEN LODGED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

We are pleased to advise our customers that despite the federal government's premature closure of the Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP)Rebate , we have managed to process and submit all applications received by Pyramid Power in accordance with the Government’s closing time. 

The shock announcement from the Federal Government on Tuesday 9 June 2009 at 10am regarding the closure of the rebate at midnight on 10 June 2009 has already caused a backlash from the community.

The intense media coverage is testimony to the community's concern about the lack of notice. Pyramid Power received no advance warning regarding the closure and are fortunate to have committed and capable staff, who stayed on and worked tirelessly to ensure every form in our possession was submitted on time

We have endeavoured to contact all customers with incomplete applications yesterday to obtain relevant information. Thank you to all of you who responded immediately. For those who we could not contact or have been unable to forward us information in time, we have submitted your application anyway and hopefully, you will be contacted directly by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to correct any short falls in your submissions.  You shall be contacted in due course by DEWHA as to the outcome of your applications.

The Shine On 2kW Community Solar Systems were also funded by another arm of the cancelled SHCP rebate, Pyramid Power was able to submit 16 community applications Community Buildings grant. This leaves about 15 without the support of the grant. Pyramid Power under the grant scheme intended to secure corporate donations of $13,000 towards each 2 kW community system and this would be matched on a dollar for dollar basis by the federal government through the grant scheme. This will still be the case for the approved submitted grants and Pyramid Power will also endeavour provide at least a 1 to 1.5 KW system for all the eligible "community nominated building" whose grant applications were not ready for submission. This will cost the company a significant amount of money but management have agreed to bear this cost, in good will for the community and also to honour the incredible work of each bulk buy team leader. 


Please note the Solar Hot Water rebate is not affected and Pyramid Power will announce details of its next Solar Electricity Deal when details of the new Solar Credits Scheme are clarified

Free Home Ceiling Insulation for Owners and Landlords

More than two million homes will receive free ceiling insulation as part of the Rudd government’s new economic stimulus package. In addition, the $500 ceiling insulation rebate for rental properties will be doubled, and the solar hot water rebate increased to $1600.

Click here for more information