CANBERRA—Solar-powered Canberra households could be paid four times more than they are now for the unused electricity they sell back to the power grid.
ACT government backbencher Mick Gentleman is lobbying his assembly colleagues to introduce a "feed-in" law so the nation's capital can follow the lead of greener European cities.
About 60 Canberra households currently generate power through solar panels returning the energy they don't need to the electricity grid.
Mr Gentleman wants to dramatically increase the number of solar-powered homes by paying them about four times the current rate - 12 cents a kilowatt hour - for their excess energy.
The $15,000 cost to install solar panels for the average home can be offset partly by a federal government rebate of $8,000 leaving homeowners with an outstanding debt of $7,000.
Mr Gentleman says if his proposal is approved a typical Canberra household could pay off that debt in a quarter of the time it takes now.
"With this feed-in law that I'm proposing, you should see that paid off in under 10 years," he said.
"Currently, you receive an income for the electricity but it's at the same rate that is paid for bulk electricity purchase so it takes 40 years to pay it off."
Mr Gentleman will introduce a draft proposal to the Legislative Assembly on November 14 ahead of various public meetings to gauge community support.
The proposal has received in-principle support from his Labor caucus, Liberal opposition and the Greens.
If all goes to plan, it will be approved by March increasing the potential for more solar-powered homes.
"That's what's occurred in Germany," Mr Gentleman said.
"If you visit some of the cities that have really taken this on board - if you look at Freiberg in Germany - there are photovoltaic (solar) panels on most of the roofs."
Feeds