SGU STC registration fee increase
ORER will be undertaking a solar PV inspection regime. The costs of solar PV inspections will be partially recovered through an increase in the registration fee for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) for small renewable generation units (SGUs).
The fee increase, from 8 cents to 47 cents, will commence from the date of effect of the enabling regulations. It is intended that the enabling regulations will be introduced in the third quarter of 2011 (1 July – 31 October).
The registration fee for certificates for solar water heaters, heat pumps and renewable energy power stations will remain unchanged at 8c/certificate.
Detail
In order to obtain small-scale technology certificates (STCs) under the SRES scheme, small generation units (SGUs), which include solar PV systems, must comply with recognised installation standards set out in the regulations and must be installed by installers accredited by the Clean Energy Council (CEC).
The legislation and the CEC require installers to be licensed electricians, to carry out installations that meet Australian standards for inverters and system design (layout), and to use panels meeting international standards. The Government takes safety concerns relating to Australian Government incentives for SGUs seriously, and recognises the need to ensure public confidence in these incentives. CEC accreditation is a long-standing requirement for STCs deemed for 15 year periods under the SRES and has recently been extended to all SGUs (previously wind and hydro SGUs were not covered).
An extended safety and quality compliance regime was included in the legislation in mid-2010. In December 2010, the regime was detailed in the regulations which refer to the on-site safety inspection regime of a statically significant sample of solar PV installations. Under this regime, the ORER is required to undertake site safety inspections to ensure that the regulatory requirements governing creation and registration of STCs under the scheme are being met.
As a result of the new regime, costs associated with ORERS’s operations will increase significantly. The fee increase from 8 cents to 47 cents will apply for the registration of STCs for SGUs is intended to assist with recovering costs for the solar PV site safety inspections.
The fee increase was listed in the Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Expense Measures section of the 2010-2011 Federal Budget. Details can be seen at http://www.budget.gov.au/2011-12/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-05.htm.
Date last updated: 09 Jan 2012