If the four-times scheme goes ahead, it won't cost the taxpayer anything (except the $8,000 subsidy).
The cost will be recouped from all consumers (except those getting welfare discounts) by a small increase in the cost of non-solar power until the generation of rooftop power is wide- spread when the four- times price is cut to keep the cross- subsiby within community acceptance bounds.
The scheme originated in Germany where solar power has really taken off big-timer.
BUT the big winner if the experimental ACT scheme is adotped in Canberra and takes off across Australia is this:
During hot summer days (when air-conditioners trigger peak coal-fired demand) solar power also hits peak production thus forestallng the need for new CO2- producing gas and coal stations.
If my 1700-watt output was copied across (say) 300,000 Aussie roofs the combined output is:
510 Megawatts!
That's one hell of big coal-fired plant that's *not* pumping CO2 into the atmosphere.
The theme of this song applies to many worthwhile and sorely needed social advances:
