Australia’s top electorates: Wright Mayo Kingston Grey Kennedy Fisher Wide Bay Longman Bowman Wakefield Brand Pearce

Flynn Canning Blair Solar is an Barker Makin Rankin Port Adelaide Richmond “ Dickson industry that Bonner Fairfax Petrie Oxley Fadden is booming. Maranoa Moreton Boothby Parkes ” Cowan Lalor Forrest Sturt Moore Hasluck Forde Hindmarsh Tangney Mcpherson The Solar Revolution Hinkler Lilley Fremantle Capricornia Ryan Lyne Geoff Bragg, Installer New England, NSW Adelaide Mcewen in Bendigo Murray Farrer Page Flinders Indi AustrAliA is one of the sunniest continents on eArth, so producing Gippsland Mcmillan power from the sun just mAkes sense. This has been recognised by millions of Bendigo geoff bragg is an icon in The But, a veteran of solar, Geoff knows that these Cowper Australians who have chosen to take energy generation into their own hands. Groom solar indusTry. He’s worked for New obstacles are not impossible — and that the industry Corangamite Hume can move forward if traditional energy players work Gilmore One million rooftop power stations are now lighting up homes around the country. And many more households England Solar Power as an installer for over ten Gorton Swan are looking to solar as a way to manage their energy bills, creating cleaner energy along the way. years. Geoff is also the NSW Chairman of the Solar with the growing renewables industry. Dawson Holt Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Director of Canberra This briefer details the rapid uptake of solar in Bendigo and shares the stories of the families and individuals “We need closer collaboration with networks and Fraser the Australian Solar Council (ASC). Having been in the Paterson renewables industries. Both sides stand to benefit Herbert that are part of this shift to powering our nation with the sun. Stirling industry for so long, he’s seen many changes. Perth hugely from the move to solar power and increasing Mallee Chifley “The solar industry is growing, and nearly 30% of the the different sources of energy production.” Charlton

Greenway Griffith market is serviced by small companies. These are Macquarie rebeccA is A reAl estAte Agent Not only that, but solar is a political issue for Rebecca “My experience shows that solar is clearly the Moncrieff local companies, providing local jobs and helping our Eden-Monaro currentlY living in milton, new and her family. industry of the future, creating local jobs, helping Macarthur economy grow.” O’Connor south wAles. She and her family have lived families take power over their bills and helping Durack “Solar is a vote winner for me. When we moved to Calwell renewables grow in our communities.” McMahon there for nearly five years, after Rebecca spent the But, the biggest issue for Geoff is the “solar coaster” Mitchell NSW, a Federal Politician recommended that every New England last 20 years as a police officer in Canberra. — ambiguity in the sector caused by policy changes. Calare new house that was built should have solar. I thought “But, what we need is a strong regulatory framework Wannon Rebecca and her husband have had two homes with Hunter to myself, that’s so right! Why wouldn’t we take “Every time the Government changes a feed-in that allows competition between solar and traditional Leichhardt solar hot water and PV, one in Canberra and one in Dobell advantage of our natural resources?” electricity markets — including the ability to access Riverina tariff policy, it dramatically affects our staffing and Dunkley Milton, NSW. La Trobe makes it difficult to forecast the future. But, as a small and connect to the grid.” Fowler Isaacs “Our system in Canberra, installed in 2002, cost $18K business, we’ve changed and tried to adapt as much Robertson Corio Why not make Ballarat for a 2.2 kW system. When we moved to NSW, our as we can,” Geoff says. Lyons Curtin system was $6K for a 4kW system. The prices have “ Aston it legislation and Werriwa dropped because the technology keeps getting Cunningham Lindsay Shortland better and better.” ensure every Throsby Berowra Newcastle “That’s the consumer power of solar. You can make house has solar The move To solar is a move by ordinary households — by families, Casey Brisbane real change for yourself and your community, just by Hughes reTirees and small and large business owners… Gellibrand on the roof? Maribyrnong putting panels on your roof. It’s so cheap and helps As the price of solar keeps dropping, and electricity bills keep increasing, the uptake of solar will continue Scullin Franklin with your bills – why wouldn’t you do it?” Rebecca Cameron, Family Rebecca Milton, NSW ” Blaxland to grow, creating with it a viable and thriving industry that provides thousands of local jobs and ensures Bruce Deakin affordable energy bills. Chisholm Mackellar Menzies Bennelong Solar also reduces the need for expensive grid upgrades, which are putting unnecessary strain Denison Batman Bendigo has Generating Creating more than Wills All in all, on household power bills. Hotham Parramatta Banks 8,356 20.89MW 18,500 Bendigo For these reason, it’s integral that measures are in place that assist and support more Australian families to Jagajaga Bass Watson solar homes of clean energy jobs nation-wide now ranks: take up the benefits of solar. Goldstein Reid Cook Barton Governments across Australia need to resist the push by big power companies to penalise solar homes Bradfield Investing Saving Saving Braddon 56 Level 2, 33 Mountain Street, with additional fees or charges, or by refusing new connections to the grid.. We need to establish new Kooyong Ultimo, NSW 2007 Grayndler policies and programs to help low income families and renters take up the benefits of the sun. And the Warringah $62.7m 26,114 $4.6m out of Australia’s North Sydney For more information, Melbourne current Renewable Energy Target should be extended and expanded, so that we can continue to work Kingsford Smith in solar power tonnes of CO2 on power bills 150 electorates please contact Lingiari [email protected] towards the day that every Australian business and home is powered by the sun. Higgins Melbourne Ports Sydney note on figures: These figures are estimates, based on an average 2.5kW system size, Solomon and Clean Energy Regulator, Sunwiz and Australian government data. Wentworth One of the ways “to reduce our costs was by going solar.” Jen Paradiso, Installer Jen Paradiso, SA Adelaide, Retiree Sue Cooke, QLD Brisbane,

Jenny Paradiso was born and “And from very small beginnings, we’ve grown much sue cooke is a retired Public “A few neighbours have since joined us, and the bred in south australia. She currently bigger than we ever thought! In fact, just this year, servant who Previously worked suburb has a high percentage of solar rooftops. It lives in the North East suburbs of Adelaide with we were awarded Telstra’s South Australian in nursing, education and does help when you see other people feeling the benefits, and realise that it’s something you can do her husband, Dave Hille, and two children — a four business of year.” health. relatively easily yourself.” year old, Violet, and three year old, Mabel. A few Recently, South Australia boasted nearly 30% of “My husband and I decided to install solar on our years ago, Jenny and Dave started Suntrix — a solar its energy production coming from renewables, roof about 3 years ago. We were interested in solar installation company in SA. including wind and solar. The State has also enjoyed for all of the benefits you can think of — primarily It’s a great “We’ve been in operation for four years. That’s on average lower electricity prices — by $88 a year — to help the environment, to produce our own clean “ energy and not have to buy coal-fired power — but it superannuation right — our daughter is as old as our business!” a feat achieved by the move to renewables. also helped that the conditions were pretty good for scheme – to think In this short period of time, the business has Having made the move to solar as a family, Jenny installing them, and that we’d save on our electricity grown rapidly. and Dave would never look back. bills” Sue says. you won’t have to

“Four years ago, we were working from the kitchen “Our electricity bill completely turned around – we pay electricity bills table in our house, and we turned over $250,000 used to get a bill, but now we get a quarterly credit! again! in our first year. Last year we hit $25 million, we’re Violet, our four year Along with running on the sun, we’ve been quite electricity-efficient and have managed to keep to a ” operating from a large warehouse and showroom “old, loves to draw, and low usage.” and employing over 20 staff,” Jenny says. whenever she draws Jenny and Dave decided to start Suntrix because of houses, she always the issues they had trying to put solar on their own includes them with solar roof when they were expecting Violet. panels. She doesn’t originally a sydneysider who moved to new “Our idea to start Suntrix was simple. We had our first understand that there’s Zealand, Justin Brown headed out to Western Australia to work in the sector baby and knew we needed to save on our bills. One any other option. where he’s been working for nearly twelve years. Alongside his busy job, Justin of the ways to reduce our costs was by going solar.” ” has also brought up a family, raising two young children with his wife. With the “But, my husband and I were looking for solar, and Jenny says she’s excited about watching increasing cost of electricity, Justin knew that solar was the best way to go to take control over his energy bills. we couldn’t afford it. Solar was more expensive this enthusiasm grow. back then, and the companies who came out to talk “I can’t wait for a day when solar panels on “Because I work in the mining industry, I know we can’t keep digging up fossil to us didn’t really know a lot about solar and were fuels forever. That’s why I’m passionate about alternative sources of energy. I work roofs are an assumption for every child. more interested in the sell. We did the research and so closely with our energy sources — and I know these things aren’t sustainable I’m waiting for the day when solar becomes decided to get solar installed ourselves and then for all time.” that integrated in every child’s understanding started doing it for family and friends,” Jenny says. of culture and life and their household.” Justin’s family has had solar PV on their roof for over two years.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to.” “Solar is finally at a place where it can compete with fossil fuels, and the costs of solar are decreasing substantially. That’s how we knew it was the right time to invest. We’re currently in a transitional period. We’re coming to the end of fossil fuels, and we need to embrace this fact and transition to renewables. Every house

should have a solar array on it.” Justin Brown, Family Man WA Perth,