Is rooftop solar a play-thing of the well-to-do? & Reflections on the economic reasoning for and against local use of system charges

This two-part seminar will present recent work that critiques evidence of the relationship between rooftop solar and household wealth and, in the second part, discusses possible economic reasoning for and against local use of system charges for neighbourhood batteries. The first part is relevant to debate on proposals to change the National Electricity Rules to allow distributors to charge for exports to the grid. The second part contributes to the discussion of the merits of policy support for neighbourhood batteries in addition to or as a substitute for behind-the-meter or big batteries.

Format:

• 2.00 pm – Introduction by Marnie Shaw, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University
• 2.05 pm – Presentation by Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University
• 2.40 pm – Audience Q&A
• 3:00 pm – Close

About the speaker

Bruce is the Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre. He is a well-known Australian energy economist whose research and advisory work has focussed on the economic regulation of network monopolies, the analysis of retail energy markets, and the design of emission reduction and renewable energy policies. Bruce has been a long-standing advisor to governments, regulators, market participants and interest groups in Australia and internationally. His PhD from Victoria University was on the political economy of energy regulation in Australia, he has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and, qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in England.

This event will be recorded. The recording will be made publicly available after the event on BSGIP.com