The solar energy consumer rights group, Solar Citizens, officially launched yesterday. The group aims to give the million plus households with solar power systems installed a voice and protection from ‘big energy’ distributors and retailers. It will give owners of solar power as well as solar hot water a “fair go.” The group will strive toward a renewable Australia.

The group hopes that solar owners will sign up via their website and be heard. They will focus on four main factors, first that everyone has access to solar products, that everyone will receive a fair price for power exported back to the grid, that everyone will have access to the grid and lastly (and most vital right now) that unfair ‘special tariffs’ will not be imposed.

Solar Citizens manager, Geoff Evans, said “To date, ordinary Australians have together invested $8 billion in solar panels for their homes, but when the interests of solar owners have come under threat, there has been no way for them to come together and protect their interests. With Solar Citizens that will change.”

One of the group’s initial targets will be Queensland who have had talks of imposing ‘special tariffs’ for households with solar power installed to account for their share of the network costs. These tariffs seem to favour government owned utilities rather than protecting the interest of solar owners not to mention the fact that it will put a dampener on future solar owners.

It also has NSW in its sites. Here solar homeowners have to negotiate their own agreement with utilities for the price of the power they produce. This is definitely a disservice to many and should be equal for all.

“There’s a real power imbalance in those negotiations” said Evans. “The situation in NSW and Queensland highlights the trend we have seen across the country,” said Dr Evans. “We will soon be working on campaigns with solar owners in every state to make sure all Australian solar owners are ensured a fair go.”

Solar Citizens will also campaign for Tasmania where the privatisation of Aurora Energy in January of 2014 is sparking fears that feed-in tariffs could be slashed. As yet the Government has not made any comments on the subject which is bringing about a great deal of uncertainty in the market. As such, 2013 could prove to be a trying year for many in the solar industry.

Only time will tell how each situation will work out but now, solar home owners have a way to join together and be heard and protected.