Hi everyone,
  
The writing has been on the wall for a while, but it still came as a shock to many Australian households when significant electricity price rises were announced for Victoria, NSW, SA and South-East QLD; following on from a more modest increase in Western Australia.
 
The increases are mainly due to general inflation and reductions in thermal (fossil fuel-based) generation resulting from unplanned outages; along with higher coal and gas prices due to global instability. 
 
We've put together a summary of new or expanded electricity bill assistance in these states. But the most effective assistance can come from installing solar on your home or business - and we have certainly seen a spike in quote requests over the last week.
 
Over to hardware and I've just released my new video guide describing the 9 most important things I think you should know about owning a solar battery in 2022 to maximise value and performance from your residential energy storage investment. See the video (and companion article) here.

Also, there's more good news about solar panels! The latest report on solar panel toughness has been released; and it shows a record number of panels passing all PVEL's torture tests. Find out more here.
  
More news below!
 
Don't forget you can get 3 solar quotes from trusted solar installers at our website - and everyone can also stay in touch with what's happening on SQ via our Facebook page.
 
Regards,

SQ ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SQ VIEWS

Torture Testing Reveals Modern Solar Panels Are Tougher Than Ever
In PVEL's 2022 PV Module Reliability Scorecard, more panels passed all 5 main tests than ever before. Discover some of the champions of toughness here.
 
Even more news below!

THE GOOD SOLAR GUIDE - READ ONLINE FREE!

7 Steps To Tiny Bills For Australian Homeowners - An Amazon Best-Seller!

The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, demystifies the solar buying process in Australia; showing you how many panels you need, which panel brands to buy, which to avoid, and how to find a great installer.

The seven-step process revealed in this book, developed over 10 years in the industry, walks you through understanding, evaluating, buying, installing and using solar to deliver on its promise of tiny electricity bills. Order the book (available in paperback or Kindle) or read the whole book online free! Yes, for free. Crazy eh?

SOLAR NEWS

Peter Dutton & David Littleproud: Climate Change And Renewables
Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce are out as leaders of their respective parties and Peter Dutton and David Littleproud are in. So, what can we expect from the pair on climate change and renewable energy?
 
Grong Grong Community Solar Crowdfunder Cranks Up
Psst! Ever wanted to own a stake in a solar farm? Here’s your chance – but DYOR (do your own research).
 
A Helping Hand With Paying Electricity Bills
Dreading your next power bill? Perhaps you’ll struggle to pay it? Find out about new and expanded assistance in paying electricity bills in VIC, WA, NSW, SA and QLD.
 
Woolworths Racks Up 150th Supermarket Solar Installation 
Supermarket giant Woolworths is continuing its solar panel rollout as it transitions to 100 per cent renewable energy.
 
Electricity Price Rise Shock For NSW, SA And SEQLD
Victoria and Western Australia had already been delivered bad news on electricity prices. New South Wales, South Australia and South-East Queensland received theirs yesterday.
 
Cassowary Coast Council Saving Big Bucks With Solar Power
Queensland’s Cassowary Coast Regional Council is pretty pleased with its solar energy savings to date, with more installations on the way.
 
Victorian Electricity Price Hike, Other States Likely To Follow
WA residents have already received bad news on electricity prices, Victorians have now as well and the fate of other states soon followed.
 
New England Solar Farm Battery Construction Kicks Off
Construction of New South Wales’ massive New England Solar Farm is well under way, and work on what could ultimately turn out to be a very big battery system has officially started.
 
Hanwha Helping Bees With Solar Energy
South Korea’s Hanwha Group is giving some bees a helping hand; creating an ideal home for them with the assistance of solar power.
  
Read more from the blog

SOLAR TOOLS & REVIEWS

There's a bunch of hardware and installer reviews along with handy and easy to use tools and calculators on SolarQuotes. Find them by clicking here.

FRESH IS BEST

If you're yet to get 3 obligation-free solar quotes from our network of trusted installers, or perhaps you didn't go ahead on a set of quotes issued previously for whatever reason and still want to install solar, now is a great time to submit for fresh quotes!

SUBMIT YOUR SOLAR REVIEW

If you're an Australian solar power system owner and would like to share a review of your solar panels, inverters, battery or installer with other potential Australian PV buyers to assist them in a purchase decision, SolarQuotes is the place to do it!
 
Please note in the case of solar panel and inverter reviews, the equipment should have been installed for at least one year.
 
Submit a review: Panels | Inverters | Batteries | Installers 
 
Pick up some tips on writing a review.

FINN'S "101" GUIDES

Understanding Solar
This runs through the basics of residential solar energy and the components that make up the system. It demystifies the magic turning sunlight into clean power for your home that can save you a bundle of cash on your electricity bills, and clearly explains some important concepts you should understand.
 
Buying Solar
My original guide, updated for 2021 that also includes a printable and video version. Now you have a basic understanding of all the bits that make up a solar power system and how they work to generate electricity, it’s time to think about getting quotes. After reading this, you’ll be able to communicate effectively with a salesperson and be confident you’re paying the right amount of money for a properly-sized system with the right components  – and from the right installer.
 
Owning Solar
The panels are now on your rooftop and the installers have packed up and left. What should you do now and how can you make the most of the new valuable addition to your home? From checking the installation to maximising electricity bill savings, find the answers here.
 
Understanding Home Batteries
This chapter will provide you an understanding of solar batteries – and will help you determine if installing one is right for you. It covers topics such as how a home battery works, the different types of energy storage and how energy storage can save you money.
 
Buying Solar Batteries
My guide to buying solar battery storage provides useful advice on how to go about purchasing a good quality home battery system installation at a reasonable price – and how to identify some of the traps. By reading this, you’ll be better equipped to make a solid purchase decision.
 
Owning A Battery System
As the proud new owner of home energy storage, you’ll want to make the most of it. This chapter provides very useful information about owning a battery system and maximising the benefits it can provide.