TasNetworks have today revealed that up to 10,000 customers may not have not been correctly paid for the solar power they have exported to the grid.
In some cases the problem goes back to 2011.
The Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance congratulates TasNetworks for being proactive in addressing this problem.
But the problem addressed in today’s announcement is not the only metering problem affecting solar owners:
• The Aurora billing system provides solar owners with incorrect information about their average electricity use (although this does not affect their bill). Despite repeated requests, Aurora have not committed to fixing this problem.
• Over a year and half ago, we identified that solar owners who purchased after 30 August 2013 were not getting the full benefit of their solar generation if they were using power on a hot water tariff at the same time.
This additional problem has still not been fixed. TasNetworks estimate that a software solution to this will not be available until August or September this year. This is over two years since the government instructed Aurora to fix this “as soon as practical”.
Solar owners need to know that they are being treated fairly and accurate metering is essential to this.
We call on TasNetworks to engage in more consultation with customers and the solar industry to make sure that all the problems affecting metering of solar customers are fixed.
Existing and future solar customers need to be confident that:
• They will be correctly reimbursed for solar energy exported, right back to 2011.
• They will not have to have their meter replaced twice in one year to get accurate billing.
“All customers need to be able to trust their electricity bill. Today’s revelation undermines that trust. Aurora Energy and TasNetworks will need to provide a lot more information to convince solar owners that billing fiascos are behind us” said Jack Gilding, Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance.
“Without this trust, customers will increasingly be asking whether they are better off not relying on the grid at all” said Mr Gilding.
*Jack Gilding, Executive Officer, Rob Manson, President, Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance Media Release
• Tasnetworks Solar Meter Debacle
State Organiser Todd Lambert, CEPU Tasmania
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) has slammed Tasnetworks latest announcement that customers with 2 rate solar meters installed on their premises have been overcharged by electricity retailer Aurora Energy.
CEPU State Organiser, Todd Lambert described today’s announcement as yet another example of constant mistakes by the state owned electricity provider that are costing Tasmanian electricity customers millions of dollars to repair.
“This follows on from the Sicame fuse replacement debacle wherein some customers homes were damaged by fire and an expensive recall program had to be initiated” Mr Lambert said.
“Following that was the expensive rectification work that needed to be added to the new Aurora billing system that allegedly cost over $30 million dollars to repair”.
Today the CEPU understands that at least 10 000 customers have been overcharged because the manufacturer (acting under direction from Aurora energy at the time) installed the wrong program in selected 2 rate solar meters referred to as Mark 7A’s.
“Our members have informed us that when they are installing them in the field the guys select this pre-determined program.” Mr Lambert said.
As a band aid solution, we are advised that effected customers will receive a $30 check in the mail, whilst Aurora retail and Tasnetworks work out how much will have to be paid back to customers in the form of compensation.
To rub salt into the wound, Tasnetworks employees have been informed that the replacement work will be contracted out, despite Tasnetworks employees claiming that they feel this could easily be added to their current workload “in house”.
“ The CEO that was in charge of the Aurora ship at the time recently walked out with a well-publicised 2 million dollar plus payout, where is the accountability for this stuff at a higher level?” Mr Lambert said. “What is even more astonishing is that in addition to his payout he is also rewarded with being appointed to a role by the Federal Government with oversight of the electricity network nationally”.
“Soon we are will be heading into negotiations with this company and I expect the company will be portraying their front line employees’ wages as the reason Tasmanian electricity bills are so high, when in truth, this isn’t the case at all”.
• Solar Citizens: Have your say on a new rule that will benefit all Australian energy consumers
