As mentioned on the Solar Power Adelaide – Unbiased Solar Information for Adelaide homepage, the South Australian Solar Feed in Scheme currently provides for a a feed in tariff rate of 16 cents/kWh (payable until 30 September 2016) BUT, and keep this date in mind, only until 30th September 2013. From 1 October 2013 this becomes nil. From 1 October 2013 only the FIT ‘Minimum Retailer Payment‘ ,currently 9.8c/kwh, will be available until 30 December 2013.
Ok, what does all this mean? Well, if you are considering installing solar in your Adelaide residence it is beneficial to do so before 30th September 2013 if you want to benefit from the higher feed in tariff rate, which can help pay off your system quicker. The feed in tariff is important in situations where, for example, you may have a larger solar system installed (say 4 or 5KW) and a good proportion of the power generated by the solar panels is not used in your household – say for example you are a working couple, out of your home most of the day (when the solar system generates electricity), meaning that possibly most of the generated solar electricity is ‘fed back’ onto the electricity grid. This ‘fed-back’ electricity attracts the feed in tariff rate so you want to qualify for the highest possible rate in this scenario.
Smaller solar systems (like the 1.5kw and 2kw systems) may (again, depending on your electricity usage patterns), generate electricity that is virtually 100 percent used by your homes electrical appliances, so the feed in tariff becomes less important as discussed in the solar-power-return-on-investment post.
