The South Australian Legislative Council has passed changes to the State Government’s solar power tariff scheme, reducing the feed-in tariff from 54 cents per kilowatt hour to 44 cents.

 

The State Government had been planning to completely scrap the scheme to new customers from October onwards, however the scheme will now be open to new customers for tso yars on at reduced tariff levels.

 

Greens MP Mark Parnell has said that he is happy with the changes, but would have preferred the rebate remain higher.

 

"We have forced the Government to back down from their promise to end the scheme to all new households from the first of October. Now there will be another two years where people can sign up for solar panels and get a rebate, but it will be at a lower rate," he said.

 

"The Government reluctantly accepted the amendment to get the legislation through Parliament and to give certainty to industry and consumers," State Energy Minister Michael O'Brien.

 

Mr O’Brien said that future customers could expect 22 cents per kilowatt after October.