❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses Synergy's Solar Rewards trial, inquiring about compensation for participants during shut-off periods, the trial's total cost, and the distribution of participants between metropolitan and regional areas. The Minister for Energy provides detailed responses, including financial incentives, operational details, and a breakdown of participant demographics.
AnsweredQoN 1402Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY — SOLAR
REWARDS
1402. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
President, I am popular today.
Hon Stephen Dawson : You're
popular every day.
Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS : The
President probably is popular every day, as opposed to some other members like
me!
I refer to Synergy's fully
subscribed 19 000 household Solar Rewards trial incorporating a $50 rebate on
their next Synergy bill and an additional $50 credit in a year's time.
(1) When a household
participating in the Solar Rewards trial has their solar generation remotely
turned off, is the household refunded by Synergy for the cost of the power they
utilise during the shut-off period?
(2) If yes to
(1), what is the projected total cost of the Solar Rewards trial, including the
two $50 payments to participating households?
(3) What percentage of the trial are
metropolitan households?
(4) What percentage of the trial are
regional households?
REWARDS
1402. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
President, I am popular today.
Hon Stephen Dawson : You're
popular every day.
Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS : The
President probably is popular every day, as opposed to some other members like
me!
I refer to Synergy's fully
subscribed 19 000 household Solar Rewards trial incorporating a $50 rebate on
their next Synergy bill and an additional $50 credit in a year's time.
(1) When a household
participating in the Solar Rewards trial has their solar generation remotely
turned off, is the household refunded by Synergy for the cost of the power they
utilise during the shut-off period?
(2) If yes to
(1), what is the projected total cost of the Solar Rewards trial, including the
two $50 payments to participating households?
(3) What percentage of the trial are
metropolitan households?
(4) What percentage of the trial are
regional households?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Energy, I thank the honourable member
for some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by
the Minister for Energy.
Synergy's Solar Rewards
product will be the first opportunity for customers to receive a financial
incentive for the orchestration of their distributed energy resources assets.
This is a world-leading approach to managing the uptake of rooftop solar and
ensures the stability of the south west interconnected system. Solar Rewards
gives Synergy the option to temporarily turn
off participating households' rooftop solar when electricity demand is
low and, instead , provide no-cost energy to the home straight from the
grid. Participants receive a financial incentive and bill credits in exchange
for giving Synergy permission to switch off their rooftop solar PV system up to
15 times during the contract period from 1 October 2023 to 30 November 2024.
Solar Rewards will assist in managing the stability of the SWIS during a low-load
event, when the supply of electricity generated by rooftop solar is high but
demand is low. This typically occurs in the middle of the day in spring and
autumn.
(1) There are
currently 2 665 customers signed up to Solar Rewards. Following the service
commencement date, a $50 sign-up credit was
applied to participating customers' Synergy account. Following the
conclusion of the contract on 30 November 2024, a final credit of $50
will be applied to participating customers' Synergy account.
When a Solar Rewards event occurs,
participants will continue to have access to electricity from the grid and will
receive a credit to cover the cost of electricity consumed during the period of
the Solar Rewards event, which is applied on a quarterly basis.
(2) Incentive
payments for Solar Reward customers of approximately $450 000 are forecast over
the course of the contract period.
President,
the answer to question (3) and (4) is in tabular form. I seek leave to have the
response incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave
granted for the following material to be incorporated.]
(3)–(4)
Total
Solar Rewards Customers
2665
Supply
Address Service Region
Number
of Customers
Percentage
by Region
Perth
Metro
2394
89.8%
Regional
271
10.2%
Supply
Address Service Region
Number
of Customers
Percentage
by Region
Perth
Metro
2394
89.8%
Country
North
74
2.8%
Country
South
197
7.4%
secretary representing the Minister for Energy, I thank the honourable member
for some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by
the Minister for Energy.
Synergy's Solar Rewards
product will be the first opportunity for customers to receive a financial
incentive for the orchestration of their distributed energy resources assets.
This is a world-leading approach to managing the uptake of rooftop solar and
ensures the stability of the south west interconnected system. Solar Rewards
gives Synergy the option to temporarily turn
off participating households' rooftop solar when electricity demand is
low and, instead , provide no-cost energy to the home straight from the
grid. Participants receive a financial incentive and bill credits in exchange
for giving Synergy permission to switch off their rooftop solar PV system up to
15 times during the contract period from 1 October 2023 to 30 November 2024.
Solar Rewards will assist in managing the stability of the SWIS during a low-load
event, when the supply of electricity generated by rooftop solar is high but
demand is low. This typically occurs in the middle of the day in spring and
autumn.
(1) There are
currently 2 665 customers signed up to Solar Rewards. Following the service
commencement date, a $50 sign-up credit was
applied to participating customers' Synergy account. Following the
conclusion of the contract on 30 November 2024, a final credit of $50
will be applied to participating customers' Synergy account.
When a Solar Rewards event occurs,
participants will continue to have access to electricity from the grid and will
receive a credit to cover the cost of electricity consumed during the period of
the Solar Rewards event, which is applied on a quarterly basis.
(2) Incentive
payments for Solar Reward customers of approximately $450 000 are forecast over
the course of the contract period.
President,
the answer to question (3) and (4) is in tabular form. I seek leave to have the
response incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave
granted for the following material to be incorporated.]
(3)–(4)
Total
Solar Rewards Customers
2665
Supply
Address Service Region
Number
of Customers
Percentage
by Region
Perth
Metro
2394
89.8%
Regional
271
10.2%
Supply
Address Service Region
Number
of Customers
Percentage
by Region
Perth
Metro
2394
89.8%
Country
North
74
2.8%
Country
South
197
7.4%
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