Solar power savings

SAVINGS FROM THE SUN: Installers John Hoelscher and Troy Lobegeiger have helped Jarrath and his family Peta Zach and Ella Ford save $6000 and potentially eliminate their power bills.

Allan Reinikka AR--

EACH time Jarrath Ford looks out at a sunny day he will be reminded of the time he saved his family more than $6000 and got rid of his power bills forever. And it’s so easy, anyone can do it.

Jarrath is one of 47 Rockhampton and Yeppoon families who teamed up to buy solar power systems for their homes in bulk.

Organiser of the Capricorn Coast Bulk Solar Power Group, Rhodes Watson, yesterday said the families had saved as much as $6000 on each unit by combining their money and approaching Rockhampton company Solar Equipped to buy in bulk.

Jarrath had received a discount of almost 50% on a $13,000 3kw system and when it’s installed soon, he hopes to never see a power bill again.

“If everything works out it should pay for itself in three years,” he said.

Rhodes said the group bought more than 800 solar panels and saved about $800,000 on the systems, and also managed to get a deal on installation.

“We have saved thousands and thousands of dollars for people,” he said.

“A normal house with a 2kw system could have a $0 power bill.”

And after seven months in the process, the first system will be installed today, with others to follow.

“I get goosebumps thinking there are all these houses on the coast getting solar power,” Rhodes said.

“We wanted the best quality with local suppliers and local installers. It was about keeping it as local as possible and I wanted to make it affordable for everyone.”

Corporate communications manager for Ergon Energy Bob Pleash yesterday said the average power bill in the Rockhampton region from the 2009/10 financial year was $1447.63 a year, or about $362 a quarter.

While Jarrath saved $6000, he would also get a government rebate when he claims carbon credits and if his family doesn’t use all of the power generated, he would be paid for supplying power back to the grid, eliminating power bills.

Manager of Solar Equipped Troy Lobegeiger, who is installing some of the systems, yesterday said any power not used is sent back to the power grid and owners are paid about 44 cents a unit of power.

“So they can either partially cut their bill back or eliminate it altogether and end up with credit,” he said.

Troy said he would encourage other

residents to join together and do the same thing.

“The group got together off their own bat and they needed some installers so they contacted us and asked if we wanted to be involved and we decided to take it on,” he said.

“We are looking in the future to run another one.”

PRICE HIKES

The latest Consumer Price Index figures during 2009-2010 shows:

Electricity prices have increased by 18.2 %

Water and sewerage costs jumped 14.1%

Gas rose by 10.3%

I wanted to make it affordable for everyone