A small Victorian town that is hoping to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy as early as 2020 has achieved what appears to be a groundbreaking deal on network charges that could pave the way for similar projects around the country.
Newstead, a town of less than 1,500 people in central Victoria, has negotiated new network charges with its electricity distributor, Powercor, that will remove some of the hurdles of building a small solar farm and sharing the output with the community.
The two-year trial on new network fees will mean that the community can install solar and share the output without being hit by further network charges for each kilowatt they consume.
Equally importantly, they appear to break the nexus between lower energy use and soaring grid charges, and will help ensure that everyone benefits from a local renewable energy transition, and not just those who can afford it.
Read more: Victoria town’s breakthrough deal on network tariffs as it pursues 100% renewables | ReNew Economy
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