THE "category killer" means test for solar panel rebates will be attacked next week when the coalition introduces its "Save Our Solar" private members Bill.
This comes as the $300 million solar industry struggles to control inventory levels because of government changes to the rebate scheme.
Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt told BusinessDaily that he will give notice in Parliament today that he intends to introduce the Bill next week in a bid to overturn the May Budget decision to limit the $8000 rebate to households earning less than $100,000.
The solar industry has had two thirds of forward orders for photovoltaic (PV) panels cancelled since the means test was introduced on Budget night because prospective buyers no longer qualify for the rebate, which would have covered about half the installation cost.
"The means test has led to a large overflow of (solar panel) inventory, which is going to hurt businesses," Mr Hunt said.
The shock announcement to introduce an income test prompted a solar industry delegation to meet with Environment Minister Peter Garrett a fortnight ago.
However, regional chief executive of global solar giant Conergy Rodger Meads said the industry was given no assurances by the minister the policy would be reviewed.
"The means test has been a category killer. People still had to find up to $8000 of their own money to install solar even with the rebate.
"We just want the government to go back to the old policy," Mr Meads said yesterday.
"Emissions should not be subject to income testing."
In another blow, solar companies said last week that they were being denied up to date information on the uptake of rebates.
Chief executive of listed company Solco, Alex Lamond, said that up until February, he was able to monitor the Australian Greenhouse Office website to "get a feel for how many rebates were being paid".
Solco, which supplies 300 dealers with solar panels sourced from China and Japan, said that its investment decisions were facing uncertainty as a result of the AGO's recent refusal to supply up to date statistics.
"It is difficult to forecast our supply requirements now," said Mr Lamond, whose company share price fell 20 per cent after the Budget decision.
"The issue at the moment is access to supply because Spain and Germany are gobbling up solar panels at a massive rate and we are unable to lock in our orders for PV panels if we don't know how many we will be able to sell.
"It is almost impossible to get supplies on the global spot market for a reasonable price."
Mr Lamond said access to supply was critical to his business's planning needs, but the current policy has hamstrung Solco's investment decisions.
