[fmc351]

Without the solar scheme, both state and fed governments would need to invest larger sums to build new power plants to supply demand in several states, which would obviously be added to the cost of supplying electricity.

Its not like we have ample supply, some states are at capacity, and some beyond it which isnt good if you like having electricity at the flick of a switch. Without solar panels to supplement the current supply, you 'MIGHT' be paying $0.60c per kw and until new plants are built, you might be experiencing brown outs, or rationing similar to water restrictions. Power plants arent cheap no matter what they are using to generate electricity.

As an example, Victorias first coal fired plant in 20 yrs is estimated will cost $1.18 billion, up from its initial estimate of $750 million. The solar rebate has eased the crisis point in all states, not just one so its added costs are more reasonable in that.

Seems to me that if we need new plants, and these things take years to build, the current group of muppets arent the ones who should be blamed for the current predicament. Its the muppets who held power in the decade before who dropped the ball.

Its in the same way that solar hot water can ease the burden of demand on generation of electricity. The less we use it for things that can be run by other means, the more capacity we have for the things that can't be provided by other means.

/$0.02