Yes.

The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS ) has always, and will continue to be, a separate scheme from the FIT.

The REBS rate is reviewed annually to reflect the market value of electricity exported to the grid.

The REBS rate differs from the rate you pay for electricity from the grid, as the electricity from the grid includes some of the costs associated with building and maintaining poles and wires and servicing the grid.

To find out more information on residential renewable energy visit Energy Policy WA.

Your FIT end date was calculated to be 10 years to the date when the approved solar system was connected at your property. You’ll find details in the FIT application form you signed with Synergy. See section 17.3 entitled Subsidy scheme duration in the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme Terms and Conditions for more details (REBS T&Cs). 

If you moved into, or purchased a home that was receiving the FIT prior to you moving in, the end date is based on the date the property originally started receiving FIT payments.

FIT will finish at all properties between 2020 and 2021.

The FIT scheme was launched by the WA State Government on 1 August 2010 for a period of 10 years. It was offered for a limited time to customers when the solar industry was relatively new in WA.  The State Government introduced the FIT scheme as an incentive to encourage more customers to take up solar.

The scheme was closed to new applicants on 30 June 2011 for FIT 40 and 1 August 2011 for FIT 20 customers.

You don’t need to do anything.

The FIT will automatically stop, with the line item detailing your FIT payment no longer appearing on your bill.  Synergy will notify you of your FIT end date in the coming months, giving you time to prepare for the FIT scheme ending.

When the FIT scheme ends, you’ll still have the benefits of solar power and continue to receive REBS for electricity exported to the grid.

A pro rata amount will appear on your bill if the FIT scheme ends at your property during your billing cycle. Any pro rata amount will be calculated using the pro-rata methodology. In short, Synergy will take the daily average units exported (for that billing cycle) and use that to calculate your pro rata FIT payment amount.

Example

Billing cycle - 1 July to 1 September (61 days)

FIT End date - 31 July (1 July to 31 July = 31 days)

Meter reading of exported power to 1 September – 122 units (this is used to calculate FIT and REBS)

Average daily power exported – (122 units/61 days) = 2 unit per day

Pro rata amount to calculate FIT payment for 31 (days) x 2 (units per day) = 62 units.

As all FIT customers currently also receive the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS), they will continue to be paid REBS after the FIT scheme ends for electricity they export to the grid at the rate set by the State Government.

If you think you might struggle with your bill without the FIT, we’re here to help. Synergy can offer help to customers who are struggling financially. Click here to find out more.

You might also like to learn about:

• My Account  – for information about the way you use energy to help you adapt your habits. In My Account you can apply for payment arrangement or extension and check your previous bills.

• Direct Debit by Instalment (DDI) payments – so you can streamline your payments during your billing cycle rather than paying a lump sum every two months

Certain cardholders may also be eligible for a concession on energy bills. Head to the Concessions WA website to see if you could be eligible https://concessions.communities.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

If you’d like more advice on how to manage your power bill, check out your options here

To keep your power bills down, try some of these energy saving tips;

• Synergy recommends setting your air conditioner to 24 degrees in summer and 18 degrees in winter
• CSIRO suggests setting your fridge to 3 degrees and your freezer to -18 to -20^ degrees
• Make the most of your solar power by running appliances such as your washing machine, dishwasher or pool pump when the sun is shining
• Turn appliances off at the wall, standby power can account for 10% of your power bill*
• Use cold water in your washing machine and only wash with a full load, the same goes for your dishwasher – only run when you have a full load
• Up to 40%* of cooling/heating in your home could be leaking out your windows. Close windows and blinds at night in winter and open up windows and doors in the evening in summer to let in the cool breeze
  Please be mindful of your personal safety and only open up doors and windows if you have security screens.

* https://www.energy.gov.au/household-guides/reduce-energy-bills

^ https://www.canstarblue.com.au/appliances/fridge-freezer-temperatures/

As a self-read customer, you provide Western Power with your meter reading. This won’t change with the end of FIT as you’ll still need to keep reading your meter as usual. Just make sure you submit your next scheduled reading on time, following the usual Western Power process, so you don’t miss out on your final FIT payment.

You can log your meter read online here at Western Power.

Failure to provide your meter reading on time may result in your final FIT payment being unable to be processed.

Western Power is required to conduct an actual meter reading annually (including self-read customers) in line with the Electricity Industry (Metering) Code 2012. Actual meter readings provided by Western Power subsequent to estimated or self-read meter readings may require Synergy to provide adjusted invoices in line with the Code of Conduct for the Supply of Electricity to Small Use Customers 2018.

Harnessing the power of WA’s sun is a great way to save money and reduce how much energy you draw from the grid.

To make the most of your solar system, look for ways to use energy during the day when your solar panels are receiving maximum sunlight, especially between 10am and 2pm. See the image below giving a general illustration about solar production and how it peaks closer to 12pm and then starts dropping towards evening.

Shifting as much power usage during middle of the day when your solar system is generating electricity is the best way for you to save on your bill.

Charge your phone and devices, run your pool pump, dishwasher or set your washing machine to operate during the day during peak solar production times.

• Check out more tips on our blog

Even without the FIT scheme, having a solar system could help you to save on your electricity costs. The more solar energy you use in your home, the less electricity you need to buy from the grid.

Perhaps you’d like to investigate a newer system that’s compatible with battery power.

Or perhaps you spend more time at home now compared to when you first had your solar system installed. This means you can use more of your electricity during the day, so a different solar system could suit your lifestyle and the way you use energy today.

If you want to upgrade your system you can check out some tips here.

Synergy will be contacting account holders directly to provide them with information about the expiry of the FIT scheme, including the end date and other helpful tips.

If you want to know the date your rental property will stop receiving the FIT, please contact the electricity account holder at the property directly. Under privacy provisions, Synergy is only able to discuss the account with approved contacts for the account. Alternatively, review your records to confirm when the FIT application was approved.

Create a plan for when the FIT scheme ends and consider using current FIT payments as credits towards future bills. Some other tips include;

• Do an energy audit at your house, look for appliances that you can power during the day when your solar system is generating electricity, rather than in the evening. For more info, check out our blog.
• Check out our Energy Saving Tips and log onto our interactive Energy tool to see what appliances could be increasing your power bill.
• Choose the most energy efficient option suitable when it’s time to buy new appliances. These might cost more upfront than lower star-rated appliances but will use less electricity in the long term.
• To get the most value from your solar system try to shift your power consumption to use power generated from your solar system. Try running appliances like your washing machine, air conditioner, dishwasher and/or pool pumps during the day rather than in the evening, where you can.