Hi everyone,
 
Welcome to another issue of the Solar Quotes weekly newsletter - please feel free to forward it on to others.
 
A review by Ronald of Kilowatt Labs' Sirious supercapacitor energy storage, sold in Australia by Arvio as modules and as part of a full storage system, triggered a fair bit of controversy on SQ last week - see what the fuss was about.
 
Also controversial  for entirely different reasons is the situation with electricity meters in Australia since "Power of Choice" reforms were introduced, which have resulted in powerful conflicts of interest.
 
While on the topic of regulatory issues, a crackdown on dodgy electricity bill discounts will kick in from July 1; hopefully making choosing an electricity retailer a little less confusing for solar and non-solar households alike.
 
More on these stories and other SQ solar news from home and abroad below!
 
By the way, 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 VIEWS

Power Of Choice Meter Reforms Result In Powerful Conflicts Of Interest
The job of installing and maintaining electricity meters, taken from Distributed Network Service Providers and given to electricity retailers, has resulted in a number of disturbing issues.
 
Arvio Super Capacitor Battery Review: Interesting But Raises Questions
Arvio's Kilowatt Labs Sirius Supercapacitor, now selling in Australia, has the best warranty of any battery we've seen here. Read this review of its claimed advantages over regular solar batteries..

SOLAR NEWS

Queensland Interest-Free Solar/Battery Loans And Grants Update
Some Queenslanders waiting on the State Government’s interest-free loans initiative before going solar or installing/adding a battery system may need to reconsider their position. 
 
Queensland Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Ends Soon
Queenslanders have less than two weeks to purchase an energy efficient appliance eligible for a State Government rebate. 40,000 Queensland households have so far received a rebate, with another 10,000 applications currently being processed. 
  
Yarranlea Solar Farm Construction Commences
Construction activity started on the weekend at the site of what will be the 121- megawatt Yarranlea Solar Farm, west of Toowoomba in Queensland.
 
Battery Trial Success In South Australia’s Cape Jervis
A new mobile energy storage project led by University of Adelaide researchers is now supporting the electricity network serving Cape Jervis. 
 
Solar Assisted Hybrid Electric Vessel To Soon Cruise Tasmania’s Gordon River
A 33-metre long vessel with electric motors and solar panels was officially given its formal name last week – and it’s not Solar McSunnyface. 
 
Wind And Solar Power Vs. Coal Seam Gas In Narrabri Shire
Santos’s proposed Narrabri Gas Project seeks to construct hundreds of coal seam gas wells within the Narrabri Shire area – but what if there was a focus on wind and solar power in the shire instead?
 
Solar Power For Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm
Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm, the first NAIF loan recipient in the Northern Territory, will soon embark on a major expansion including solar energy to help power its operations. 
 
Queensland Leading The Charge In Large-Scale Solar
Investment value in large-scale solar power projects in Queensland make up more than half of the national total says the Clean Energy Council.
 
Crackdown On Dodgy Electricity Bill Discounts
Energy retailers will soon be prohibited from offering pseudo-discounts and a new investigation will determine whether Australian energy consumers are being gouged by networks in relation to corporate tax liabilities.
 
Read more from the blog

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 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 | Installers 
 
Pick up some tips on writing a review.

USEFUL SOLAR INFO

NEW! Solar Panel Comparison Table
Easily compare solar panels, specifications and their prices side-by-side in our new solar panel comparison table.
 
Solar Power Forecast Tool
We developed this handy tool in collaboration with WeatherZone to help you forecast your solar system's output up to 48 hours ahead. 

Important Mistakes To Avoid In Buying Solar 
Don't become a lost sheep in a field of wolves. Learn about the top 7 mistakes people make when buying solar power systems.



13 Questions To Ask A Solar Company
Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you have satisfactory answers to these important questions.

Solar Battery Storage Explained
How to buy a solar system with battery storage. Do you need backup functionality or not? How much should you pay, and what batteries are safe and reliable?
 
Compare Solar Feed In Tariffs 
Make sure you are getting a good solar feed in tariff - try this easy to use comparison tool

Solar Battery Comparison Table
Discover battery prices and specifications of dozens of energy storage solutions with our solar battery storage comparison table.