Search Results for: queensland

‘No Can Do’ for Campbell’s Queensland Solar Projects

solar dawn logo

Will the sun set on Solar Dawn?

Well that didn’t take long did it folks? No sooner had Campbell “Can-Do?” Newman adjusted the height of the premier’s chair following his landslide win in the Sunshine state, than the plug was pulled on one of Queensland’s flagship solar projects. In moves that have become familiar to solar supporters around the nation, solar (and other worthy renewable projects) are usually first to go as new governments look to impress their new electorates.

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Queensland Government Announces Massive Solar Program

Anna Bligh, the Premier of Queensland has announced plans to provide two hundred thousand Queensland residents with solar powered, economical and ecological, hot water systems. Bligh states the government has begun its election commitment, and is encouraging householders to take advantage of the new program. A government hotline has already been set up, so anyone interested can register quickly, and easily. [Read more…]

Australia’s Battery Boom Hits 500,000. What’s Changed?

500,000 cheaper home batteries

Australia has now installed more than 500,000 batteries under the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

It’s an impressive number for a scheme that’s a little over a year old, and one Energy Minister Chris Bowen was understandably keen to celebrate.

“Every battery installed means another household getting more value from their rooftop solar, and another job for the local installers and small businesses delivering this rollout across the country,” Bowen said.

But half a million batteries later, it’s worth looking beyond the milestone. The program hasn’t just put a lot of batteries on walls. It has changed Australia’s home energy market remarkably quickly.

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Solar Power Nation Clean Bowled By Hundreds Of Complaints

Michael Clarke promoting Solar Power Nation

A major solar retailer operating under four different names – and promoted by retired cricketer Michael Clarke – faces multiple investigations after copping hundreds of complaints, ranging from allegations of dodgy worksmanship to unrefunded deposit payments for installs that never happened.

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Insulating An Apartment With Strata: What’s Allowed?

Insulation options with the SolarQuotes border.

The parts of your apartment you can insulate depend on four main factors:

  1. Whether you own or rent
  2. Whether the work affects common property
  3. Whether it changes the building’s outside look
  4. Which state you live in

These points will help you figure out what you can do right away, what needs approval, and what isn’t allowed at all.

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Solar Sharer: How To Shift Appliances To Free Daytime Power

Cartoon image of a washing machine on a timer.

EV charging, heating, and cooling are usually the biggest electrical loads you can shift. We’ve already talked about heating and cooling in another part of this series, and we’ve also covered EVs. After those, hot water and the pool pump are usually next. But not all appliances can be shifted. Here’s how to figure out which ones you can move, and how to do it.

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GroWatt Manager Teabags The Clean Energy Council

A man getting hauled into a paddy wagon.

There’s never a dull moment in the solarcoaster, but a GroWatt manager took things up a notch last week by getting themselves arrested after a dalliance with the Clean Energy Council (CEC).

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Can You Charge An EV In Three Hours Of Free Power?

Two EVs charging in a driveway with an EV charger on the garage.

Solar Sharer plans featuring free daytime electricity can be great value for EV owners – but there’s a catch. To make the most of the offer, you need a dedicated home charger set to run during the free hours. If you use a regular wall socket and try to guess the timing, you’ll barely cover your commute, and your bill will stay about the same. Here’s how to get it right.

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Solar Sharer Plans Compared: Three Free Hours, At A Cost

From the start of this month, most energy retailers are required to offer plans offering three free hours of daytime electricity. We’ve put three Solar Sharer offers under the microscope to see the devil in the detail – just how much extra customers will be paying in daily supply charges and peak rates.

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Solar Sharer In Winter: Heat Your Home For Free

Air conditioning to warm a home in winterWith Australia in the grip of winter, a new breed of free daytime electricity plans have arrived just in time to keep your home warm on the cheap. Here’s how to time your electric heating – and cooling – to make the most of the Solar Sharer Offer’s free electricity period.

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