Renewable Energy Target Cost Recovery Impact Statement published

As foreshadowed in May 2011 as part of the 2011/12 Budget and within the consultation paper released on the Department’s website on 1 September 2011, regulations for the increase in registration fee for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) for small generation units (SGUs) have been made. The regulations apply the increased fee to all STCs created for SGUs from 17 October 2011. Further details are available on the website of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator .

This Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) has been prepared for the increase in the fee from, $0.08 to $0.47, for the registration of STCs created from SGUs under the Small scale Renewable Energy Scheme component of the Renewable Energy Target scheme. The fee is administered by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator. The registration fee for STCs for solar and heat pump hot water systems will remain unchanged.

The increased fee is to partially recover costs of the on-site component of an inspection regime for SGUs that was legislated through an amendment to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 in mid-2010. Follow-on amendments to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2000 were made in December 2010.

The purpose of the CRIS is to clearly demonstrate the cost recovery arrangement by articulating the policy rationale for the cost recovery and demonstrating the link between expenses and fees.