❓ A WA parliamentary question examines the contribution of solar PV systems to the Broome electricity grid, costs to Horizon Power, and connection policies. The response reveals limitations on new connections due to capacity constraints.
AnsweredQoN 3879Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to domestic and other solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in
Broome, and I ask: (a) how much electricity do solar PV systems provide
to the electricity grid in Broome as a percentage of the total annual average
energy consumption; (b) how many solar PV systems supply electricity to the
grid in Broome; (c) what is the percentage contribution of
electricity to the grid from household solar PV systems; (d) how many businesses have solar PV systems that
supply electricity to the grid in Broome; (e) what is the percentage contribution of
electricity to the grid from solar PV systems to businesses; (f) what was the cost in dollars per annum for 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 to Horizon Power of solar PV systems in Broome from: (i) lost income; and (ii) paying a tariff to solar system owners
who supply the grid; (g) what has Horizon Power’s policy on private solar
power connection to the grid been since 2010; (h) for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and
2015, how many new solar PV systems have connected to the grid; (i) how can Horizon Power customers in Broome obtain
relief from rising energy cost through off peak tariff and/or solar, as is
available for commercial customers in the metropolitan area; (j) is the Minister aware that technology to allow
solar power to be connected to the grid is available in Broome; (k) can private individuals/households and
businesses connect to the grid in Broome now; (l) if no to (k), why not; and (m) if yes to (k), will the Minister provide a detailed explanation of the process and who to contact?
Broome, and I ask: (a) how much electricity do solar PV systems provide
to the electricity grid in Broome as a percentage of the total annual average
energy consumption; (b) how many solar PV systems supply electricity to the
grid in Broome; (c) what is the percentage contribution of
electricity to the grid from household solar PV systems; (d) how many businesses have solar PV systems that
supply electricity to the grid in Broome; (e) what is the percentage contribution of
electricity to the grid from solar PV systems to businesses; (f) what was the cost in dollars per annum for 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 to Horizon Power of solar PV systems in Broome from: (i) lost income; and (ii) paying a tariff to solar system owners
who supply the grid; (g) what has Horizon Power’s policy on private solar
power connection to the grid been since 2010; (h) for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and
2015, how many new solar PV systems have connected to the grid; (i) how can Horizon Power customers in Broome obtain
relief from rising energy cost through off peak tariff and/or solar, as is
available for commercial customers in the metropolitan area; (j) is the Minister aware that technology to allow
solar power to be connected to the grid is available in Broome; (k) can private individuals/households and
businesses connect to the grid in Broome now; (l) if no to (k), why not; and (m) if yes to (k), will the Minister provide a detailed explanation of the process and who to contact?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
56 days
(a) 9.5% penetration (installed solar capacity compared to the total system peak) and 1% of Horizon Power’s annual Broome energy requirements (Horizon Power does not measure consumers production and utilisation of solar energy within their premises).
(b) 274 properties (both residential and business)
(c) Of the 1% of energy exported back to the grid to meet Horizon Power’s annual energy requirements, 0.85% of this is from residential customers.
(d) 24 businesses
(e) Of the 1% of energy exported back to the grid to meet Horizon Power’s annual energy requirements, 0.15% of this is from business customers.
(f) (i) Horizon Power does not measure consumer energy consumption and production beyond the metering point, so is unable to answer this question.
(ii)
YEAR
TARIFF (REBs)
2010 – 2011
Not available
2011 – 2012
$341,232
2012 – 2013
$325,883
2013 – 2014
$312,203
2014 – 2015
$277,747
(g) what has Horizon Power’s policy on private solar power connection to the grid been since 2010;
Horizon Power has supported and continues to support renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS) allows eligible customers, including residential, not-for-profit and educational institutions, to install a renewable energy system up to five kilowatts and export excess energy to Horizon Power. To date, Horizon Power has also voluntarily offered a renewable energy buyback product to commercial customers and approved applications for larger renewable energy systems subject to technical and commercial assessment. To make sure we can continue to offer safe and reliable power supplies to all our customers, Horizon Power must approve all renewable energy system applications to ensure they meet technical requirements. In some towns, we are no longer able to approve applications as the town’s hosting capacity has been reached.
(h) The table below includes installed and approved for installation systems
YEAR
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
Pre 2010/11
45
0
2010 – 2011
129
9
2011 – 2012
64
2
2012 – 2013
4
1
2013 – 2014
6
0
2014 – 2015
2
1
2015 – to date (15/03/2016)
0
11
(i) Residential customers in regional and remote towns across Western Australia pay the same price per unit as their metropolitan counterparts (uniform tariff policy), which is significantly less than the cost to supply regional and remote customers. Horizon Power does not offer time of use tariffs to residential customers.
(j) Yes, solar power is connected to the grid in Broome.
(k) No further solar power systems (except those currently approved but not yet installed) may be connected to the Broome system at this time.
(l) Hosting capacity has been reached in Broome.
(m) Customers should check Horizon Power’s online eligibility calculator and if they wish to know more should contact their local office in Broome, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha, Carnarvon or Esperance.
(b) 274 properties (both residential and business)
(c) Of the 1% of energy exported back to the grid to meet Horizon Power’s annual energy requirements, 0.85% of this is from residential customers.
(d) 24 businesses
(e) Of the 1% of energy exported back to the grid to meet Horizon Power’s annual energy requirements, 0.15% of this is from business customers.
(f) (i) Horizon Power does not measure consumer energy consumption and production beyond the metering point, so is unable to answer this question.
(ii)
YEAR
TARIFF (REBs)
2010 – 2011
Not available
2011 – 2012
$341,232
2012 – 2013
$325,883
2013 – 2014
$312,203
2014 – 2015
$277,747
(g) what has Horizon Power’s policy on private solar power connection to the grid been since 2010;
Horizon Power has supported and continues to support renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS) allows eligible customers, including residential, not-for-profit and educational institutions, to install a renewable energy system up to five kilowatts and export excess energy to Horizon Power. To date, Horizon Power has also voluntarily offered a renewable energy buyback product to commercial customers and approved applications for larger renewable energy systems subject to technical and commercial assessment. To make sure we can continue to offer safe and reliable power supplies to all our customers, Horizon Power must approve all renewable energy system applications to ensure they meet technical requirements. In some towns, we are no longer able to approve applications as the town’s hosting capacity has been reached.
(h) The table below includes installed and approved for installation systems
YEAR
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
Pre 2010/11
45
0
2010 – 2011
129
9
2011 – 2012
64
2
2012 – 2013
4
1
2013 – 2014
6
0
2014 – 2015
2
1
2015 – to date (15/03/2016)
0
11
(i) Residential customers in regional and remote towns across Western Australia pay the same price per unit as their metropolitan counterparts (uniform tariff policy), which is significantly less than the cost to supply regional and remote customers. Horizon Power does not offer time of use tariffs to residential customers.
(j) Yes, solar power is connected to the grid in Broome.
(k) No further solar power systems (except those currently approved but not yet installed) may be connected to the Broome system at this time.
(l) Hosting capacity has been reached in Broome.
(m) Customers should check Horizon Power’s online eligibility calculator and if they wish to know more should contact their local office in Broome, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha, Carnarvon or Esperance.
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