{"id":48218,"date":"2021-03-15T10:56:52","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T00:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=48218"},"modified":"2021-03-15T10:56:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T00:26:52","slug":"time-of-use-tariffs-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/time-of-use-tariffs-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Let Retailers Force You On To Time-Of-Use Tariffs When You Go Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are 16 different electricity distribution networks in Australia. Don’t let them (or retailers) try and force you on a time-of-use tariff when you go solar.<\/p><\/div>\r\n

When you get solar panels installed, your old electricity meter is replaced with a smart meter.\u00a0 Unless you already have one.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

This isn’t a bad thing in itself, as smart meters provide some advantages.\u00a0 But there is a problem if installing a smart meter is used as an excuse to foist a time-of-use (TOU) tariff on people who would rather not have one. <\/p>\r\n

In Tasmania, you are put onto a time of use tariff by default when a solar power system is installed.\u00a0 The good news is you are not required to stay on it and are free to change to any tariff an electricity retailer is willing to offer you, whether it is a time-of-use or a standard tariff that charges a flat rate per kilowatt-hour.\u00a0 Aurora Energy<\/a> — Tasmania’s largest electricity retailer — appears happy to tell people they’re able to change.\u00a0 The drawback is the process can take months.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

In the past, I’ve heard complaints about people in Victoria being put on time-of-use tariffs against their will and not being able to change back when they had solar installed.\u00a0 I looked into this but was unable to get a straight answer from any of the electricity retailers I contacted.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Victoria’s Energy Ombudsman1<\/a><\/sup> office says Victorians are free to choose any electricity plan offered to them by retailers.\u00a0 There are at least a dozen retailers in Victoria that offer plans with standard tariffs, so finding one should not be a problem. \u00a0They also told me if Victorians are on any plan they don’t want, they are free to change. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n

I was also told the Ombudsman’s office could help you complain if you are prevented from changing plans.\u00a0 And by “you”, I mean “Victorians”.\u00a0 I can’t complain for you because I’m sitting here in Radelaide and not willing to move to Victoria for all the tea in Tasmania.2<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

The bad news is, if you are on a time-of-use plan that you don’t want, it can take months to change.\u00a0 This delay seems ridiculous because one of the advantages of smart meters is that they allow electricity plans to be changed almost immediately.<\/p>\r\n

Time-Of-Use Vs. Standard Tariff<\/h2>\r\n

Electricity retailers offer two main tariffs3<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\r\n