Who are the Best and Worst Electricity Companies for Solar Customers?  

When it comes to electricity retailers most of us tend to stick with the devil we know, for better or worse. However, as a solar company we hear from many customers who are looking for alternative solutions like solar power out of frustration with their electricity company, with some even looking to us for guidance as to who they should select.

Although sticking with your current company ensures that your transition to solar is a smooth process, there’s no better way to signal your displeasure with an energy provider than voting with your feet.

Tristan Edis from Business Spectator has compiled a list of solar friendly retailers from all around the country, and comparing their offers to the compulsory solar feed-in tariff to illustrate which companies offer the best deals.

First he lists each state and their mandatory minimum offering for electricity feed into the grid:

Then he lists some of the major electricity retailers and their offering to solar panel owners for electricity returned to the grid:

Edis then proceeds to “name and shame” retailers that do their best to stifle solar customers efforts to reduce their power bills and use less energy in their homes.

Energy Australia and Simply Energy are jointly accused of not only offering solar customers the bare minimum, but also lobbying to have environmental measures such as the carbon tax removed and opposing the proliferation of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Dodo Power and Gas also offer only the bare minimum for solar feed-in however don’t actively campaign against renewable energy policies. Edis presumes this is because the parent company has no stakes in electricity generation itself.

Momentum also comes up short with it comes to renewable credibility considering it only offer solar customers the manditory minimum while also misleading customers into thinking that it sources green energy generated by Hydro Tasmania. Edis explains that, in fact, customers are, “making precisely no difference to the amount of renewable energy generated in this country and no difference to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Although Origin Energy makes Tristan’s list of “solar friendly” companies, it’s worth remembering that less than a year ago they were lobbying against renewables and blaming solar and wind power for driving up the price of electricity.

As always, it pays to do your homework and read the fine print.