Meanwhile in oz.. unlikely to impact CFU for some...

Meanwhile in oz.. unlikely to impact CFU for some time..unless(?)

http://www.cospp.com/articles/2014/...n-commissioner-in-australia.html?noredir=true

Call for distributed generation commissioner in Australia

30/09/2014
By Diarmaid Williams
International Digital Editor

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has called on the federal government to appoint a commissioner to support the rollout of distributed generation.

The Fifth Estate website reports that ASBEC president Tom Roper called for the appointment as a means of helping Australia more effectively fulfil growing potential in the sector.

“Significant opportunities exist to make energy more affordable, improve energy productivity, increase system diversity and resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through distributed generation,” Roper said.

He added that the commissioner would focus on removing regulatory barriers and inconsistent standards, and “create a viable market for renewable and distributed generation resources”, including solar photovoltaic, cogeneration, trigeneration and district energy systems.

“If they are rolled out in an effective way, a diverse mix of distributed generation technologies would protect homes and businesses from rising fuel costs and reduce energy bills,” he said.

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http://www.asbec.asn.au/news/
30 September 2014
ASBEC Calls for Distributed Generation Commissioner

Australia’s peak body of organisations committed to a sustainable built environment has called on federal, state and local governments to work together to maintain the Renewable Energy Target and appoint a Commissioner to support the rollout of distributed generation in Australia.

“Significant opportunities exist to make energy more affordable, improve energy productivity, increase system diversity and resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through distributed generation,” said the Australian

Sustainable Built Environment Council’s President, Tom Roper.
Distributed generation includes solar photovoltaic, cogeneration, trigeneration and district energy systems.

“In addition to maintaining the Renewable Target, a Commissioner should be appointed to focus on the removal of regulatory barriers and inconsistent standards, and create a viable market for renewable and distributed generation resources.”

Reforms to energy market regulations and other policies are essential to unlock the potential of distributed generation and ensure that benefits are delivered to consumers.

“If they are rolled out in an effective way, a diverse mix of distributed generation technologies would protect homes and businesses from rising fuel costs and reduce energy bills.”

Read ASBEC’s Platform on Distributed Generation here.

Download ASBEC’s media release here.

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http://www.asbec.asn.au/wordpress/w...-ASBEC-Platform-on-Distributed-Generation.pdf

excerpt:

ASBEC policy recommendations
Federal, state and local governments should work together to:

•   Maintain the Renewable Energy Target
•   Appoint a commissioner to support the rollout of DG. The Commissioner would focus on removing regulatory barriers and inconsistent standards, and creating a viable market for renewable and distributed energy resources.
•   Simplify the process for connecting DG to the grid by:
  • -  Expediting the rule change proposed by ClimateWorks and the Property Council to improve
    the connection process for DG;
  • -  Developing protocols for a standard connection process
  • -  Having the DG Commissioner to act as an ombudsman for the connection process.
•   Commence a long-term process to deliver fair returns from DG installations, including both energy and network values. This would include:
  • -  Reviewing the way that energy consumers and generators are charged for connecting to,
    and using the grid, and ensuring that DG owners are rewarded for any benefits they deliver
    to networks.
  • -  Recognising and commodifying the low-carbon value of cogeneration and trigeneration, so
    that consumers that place a high value on avoided emissions can pay a premium for these forms of generation.
•   Immediately start interim measures to deliver fairer returns from DG installations:
  • -  Allow distributed generators to use parts of the public network as virtual private-wire
    systems;
  • -  Relax requirements for consumers to be able to access offers from multiple electricity
    retailers where access to DG is combined with additional consumer protection; and
  • -  Support the next 3,000 MW of cogeneration installed in Australia through the NSW Energy
    Savings Scheme and Victorian Energy Saver Incentive, in recognition of the multiple barriers facing these technologies and their multiple benefits.
•   Deliver targeted financial support for innovative applications of DG.
• Role of ASBEC
  
  There are many groups doing good work on DG, and lots of research on DG. ASBEC can help by engaging its members to advocate for novel policies (e.g. the commissioner) and support key policy changes that are underway (e.g. tariff reform).