Last-minute rush for solar power before tariff change, predicted job losses

DARWIN solar companies have reported a flood of last-minute business after Jacana did a quiet backflip and extended the period for companies to get applications for one-for-one feed-in tariff solar panel installation until midnight on April 14.

Darwin solar companies have reported a flood of last-minute business after Jacana did a quiet backflip and extended the period for companies to get applications for one-for-one feed-in tariff solar panel installation until midnight on April 14.

DARWIN solar companies have reported a flood of last-minute business after Jacana did a quiet backflip and extended the period for companies to get applications in for one-for-one feed-in tariff solar panel installation until midnight on April 14.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is they say 80 per cent of their business will be gone after the new deadline, along with Territory jobs.

The backflip came after a flood of angry Territory businesses blasted Jacana and the NT Government for implementing changes last Sunday without any notice being given to solar installation companies.

The April 5 change saw a reduction to the feed-in tariff, from about 23.7¢ per kilowatt hour down to a new standard of 8.3¢ per kilowatt hour.

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“They did the right thing in giving us a chance to finish off some of the business we had started before the sudden change,” one anonymous solar business said.

“Yes, I have been really busy with completing contracts – so that’s been good.

“But I can tell you that from next week 80 per cent of the business will be gone.

“And this is not just my business, there are electricians that employ young Territory staff and they will no longer have jobs.

“This decision will affect many Territory families whose jobs will disappear. Companies that have put on young extra staff will now have to start laying them off as the business falls away. I know of eight to 10 families that will be affected.”

The businessman said the changes and the coronavirus would be a financial windfall for Jacana.

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“The large numbers of people working from home is going to push up power usage and power bills by a long way,” he said.

“Then add in the change in pricing and the likelihood that coronavirus home-isolation practices will be in place for many more months.

“Jacana should not have been changed to the new 8.3¢/ kilowatt hour until after the coronavirus all-clear.”