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Renewable energy systems

Choosing to install a renewable energy system at home or your business is a great way to help provide for and manage your electricity needs and bills. It's also a way to do your bit to protect our environment.

Reduce your electricity bills

Although installing a renewable energy system is not all about money, we know that you have to be able to prove the return on your investment. You can reduce your electricity bill by generating some of your own electricity. If you don't use all the electricity you generate, Horizon Power can buy back excess electricity you are able to export into our electricity system. This means the savings you make on your normal bills and the buyback payments you receive by selling excess electricity to Horizon Power can help pay off the cost of your system.

Potential discount on your system

The system you purchase may be eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through the Solar Credits RECs multiplier scheme. Your installer may assist you in calculating the number of RECs for which your system is eligible. As RECs can have a value, your installer may then offer you a discount on your system in exchange for some or all of the RECs. Learn more about the Solar Credits RECs multiplier scheme from the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator.

Hosting capacity

Horizon Power is committed to using and promoting renewable energy. To safeguard the quality of electricity to each community, we have set a renewable energy hosting capacity in all the towns we supply. Hosting capacity means how much renewable energy our electricity system can accommodate without disrupting supply to our customers.

Hosting capacity - the first 80 per cent

All customers have access to the first 80 per cent of renewable energy hosting capacity in a town. With the exception of Kununurra*, all customers can apply to connect up to 5 kilowatts (kW); and community benefit organisations⁺ (C2, D2, schools and Shires) can apply to connect up to 50 kW (please be aware that community benefit organisations with a connection greater than 30 kW will be offered the Commercial REBS terms and conditions).

Hosting capacity - the last 20 per cent

Once approved installations exceed 80 per cent of hosting capacity in each town, only residential and community benefit organisations (C2, D2, schools and shires) are eligible*. They can apply to install systems up to 5 kW, until hosting capacity is reached.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, view the hosting capacity eligibility rules. This explains eligibility at tariff level and also indicates whether you will be offered a REBS or Commercial REBS contract (check your bill to confirm your tariff).

You can also get an idea of how much hosting capacity may be left in your town by downloading last month's available hosting capacity by town. Please remember that hosting capacity is updated daily as applications are approved, so we can only confirm availability when processing your application.

In towns where hosting capacity has been reached, only systems that can be managed or controlled by Horizon Power may be considered. This applies even to systems that don't export excess electricity.

Applications for all systems must be approved by Horizon Power before you buy and install a system.

* Kununurra/Wyndham/Lake Argyle: REBS eligible customers can apply to connect up to 5 kW size systems only (i.e. A2, C2, D2 and schools). The Commercial REBS contract cannot be offered.

⁺Community benefit organisation is defined as a customer on the C2 or D2 tariff, or is classed as a school or Shire. If the installation is above 30 kW, customers will be offered the Commercial REBS terms and conditions.

In the future, we plan to provide you with more options

Horizon Power understands that the demand for renewable energy will continue to grow and we are looking at long term, cost-effective solutions to increase hosting capacity in the future.

What to do next

We recommend that you consider whether a renewable energy system is right for you, including reading the terms and conditions for connection to the Horizon Power network and for our buyback offer. If you are satisfied with the terms and conditions and our technical requirements for renewable energy systems, you may then like to contact a Clean Energy Council accredited installer or electrical contractor to talk about your requirements and get a detailed quote for purchase and installation of a renewable energy system.

Remember - you must apply to Horizon Power before you install a system. Once you have the details of the system you wish to install, you can complete our online application form.

Visit the following websites for important information

www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au - learn more about the long term benefits of renewable energy, RECs and other subsidies, and get a list of accredited suppliers and installers.

www.energy.wa.gov.au - find general information about WA Government initiatives to promote and increase the use of renewable source electricity. Customers currently receiving the State Government's net Feed-in Tariff, can download the Terms and Conditions.

www.orer.gov.au/solar-panels/solar-credits/solar-credits - learn more about the Solar Credits RECs multiplier scheme at the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator website.