Solar Victoria has published the 2023-2024 Notice To Market, including five new mandatory requirements and rather more recommendations. [Read more…]
Unmasking The Energy Illuminati: Notes From The Smart Energy Conference

All of this energy industry technology and here’s me with a flat phone battery.
Dear reader, I’ve taken the plunge and weathered another trade show, Smart Energy 2023, so you don’t have to. [Read more…]
Surviving the Trade Show Trenches: Australia’s Energy Politics
L to R, NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, Saul Griffith, Defence Minister Matt Thistlewaite (running away) Wyatt Roy, Terri Butler & Greens leader Adam Bandt.
Navigating the labyrinth of trade shows can often feel like a journey through a fantasy novel, complete with elf-sized airline seats, networking events that leave heads spinning, and generous sales reps locked in fierce debates over dinner bills. Yet, I’ve braved these challenges to bring you the latest insights from the frontlines of the energy industry. [Read more…]
Budget 2023. Direct Bill Reductions: Dumb. Low Cost Loans: Smart
Last night the Treasurer gave a half-hour Budget speech. I listened in because lately, there hasn’t been enough boredom in my life. There is a lot I could say about this year’s budget — but I won’t. I’ll stick to discussing energy. Mostly, the Government’s plan for providing cost-of-energy relief to low-income households and how they’re doing it wrong. [Read more…]
We Want More Women Working In Solar: Here’s The Plan.
Image Credit: Finn Peacock and his AI helper
The solar industry’s getting serious about gender balance. The Smart Energy Council’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) sets the stage for an estrogen-fueled transformation and was unveiled in a webinar last week.
I mean, come on, a measly one-third of the solar workforce are women, and the Smart Energy Council says they’re mostly in admin, with a smaller number in sales and very few up on roofs installing systems. [Read more…]
Update: ACT’s 0% Sustainability Loans Scheme Gets Better & Worse!
Zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 are available to most Canberra households and can be used to purchase a range of energy-saving home improvements and electric vehicles. [Read more…]
ACT Pensioner Rebates For Solar & To Help Ditch Gas: How To Apply
If you’re an ACT pensioner interested in getting solar panels installed; provided you live in your own home, I have good news. To help meet their target of zero net emissions by 2045, the ACT Government is offering a rebate of up to $2,500.
But this isn’t the only good news I have. [Read more…]
Randwick City Council Solar, Battery & Other Rebates Explained
Randwick City Council Has Buckets Of Solar, Battery & Sustainability Rebates
There are a lot of local councils in Australia, but there’s none better than Sydney’s Randwick Council. Their incentives are so generous a household could receive rebates of up to… [Read more…]
Dumb Solar Shutdown Device: Queensland Goes It Alone On GSD
Queensland is taking the lead in going backwards on solar power, with Energy Queensland mandating a new device, a few new acronyms, a new layer of complexity for installers and a new expense for owners of some new solar power systems. [Read more…]
South Australia Proves You Can Go Off-Grid With A Million People
In November 2022, South Australia experienced a ferocious storm that decoupled us from the rest of the electricity grid and felled many local power lines. Functioning as an island, we couldn’t export to the bigger national network, so without that safety valve, SA Power Networks (SAPN) was obliged to pull out all the stops to maintain stability. [Read more…]
Currently Raging Debates: