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Synergy's paying me!
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10288		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  bythebrook [ Aug 13th, '11, 11:56 ]
Post subject:  Synergy's paying me!
Yesterday I got a letter from Synergy (that's the electricity supplier in WA) telling me that under the REBSS (Renewable Energy Buyback Subsidy Scheme), they are required to send me a payment for the balance of my net export credits where the balance is $45 or more as at June 30 each years.
Apparently I will get a cheque in the next few days. They could have saved on postage by putting the cheque in the same letter, but that seems too obvious.
I wonder who thought June 30 was a good cut-off date? That is the middle of winter, when many PV owners won't be making much power anyway. So they pay you your balance, and then send you a bill for your energy usage in July and August, when you aren't making enough kWh to cover your energy usage! Nice one, Synergy!
Even better, if you are on a Centrelink pension, you have to declare your "income" from PV. But you can't claim your July-August power bill against that income, which you could have done IF they didn't send you money when you didn't want it.
Author:  RupertofOZ [ Aug 13th, '11, 12:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
Yep.. modern business, particularly the banks and utilities... are a bit like those blokes in the recent riots....

Pretend to offer you a hand.... while they steal from your backpack with the other...
Author:  gorotsuki69 [ Aug 13th, '11, 12:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
Synergy are a bunch of useless *******
basically I had solar PV installed in June and I faxed the forms back in May.
Rang a few times and they said they were backlogged so wait etc so I did.
fast forward to July I ring up again and they said they never received the fax and could I send it again.
so I faxed again and they said they received it this time but since it is after July 1st I won't be getting the higher rebate.
I said bull**** I have the fax transmission report from May (THANK GOODNESS) and they said they will call me back.
I'm still waiting.

I feel some Ombudsman action happening soon...
Author:  Dicko [ Aug 13th, '11, 16:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
bythebrook wrote:
Even better, if you are on a Centrelink pension, you have to declare your "income" from PV. But you can't claim your July-August power bill against that income, which you could have done IF they didn't send you money when you didn't want it.

Would it make any difference if you don't bank the cheque until the week you pay the bill?
I know from my business that you dont pay gst until the money has come in, maybe you could just endorse the cheque, and pay it straight back into their account. :think:
Author:  mantis [ Aug 13th, '11, 16:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
Got solar system installed back in Jan and we think :think: :think: :think: that we will be on the proper rates now as the meter has been reset in the last week.
Author:  bythebrook [ Aug 19th, '11, 09:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
I've just remembered that I read my own meter - because the meter readers don't want to see if my dogs are friendly - possibly the blue heeler breed has a bad reputation?
So Synergy have just paid me - based on MY meter readings. I'm very honest, but I can see how it is possible to get a significant amount of money illegally this way!
Author:  arbe [ Aug 19th, '11, 10:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
Bad reputation? Not that I am aware of. Besides your dogs are very friendly. Not hard to see that.
Author:  Prawnz [ Aug 19th, '11, 10:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
Just had ours installed (2 days ago) .

Only a 1.5kw system so it wont cover all our usage , but hopefully with a bit of thought it will put a dent in our bill . The sparky that did the connection told us to use as little as possible during he day (eg dont us washing machine , dishwasher etc) when we can be sending power back into the grid at 47c a unit , then do our "stuff" at night when we will be using power from the grid at 19c .

Just had a look and we are making 1490w at the min . :D
Author:  D_J_Craig [ Aug 19th, '11, 13:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
I am surprised that you have to report your income from PV to Centrelink. I was under the impression that the Govt. were not going to enforce this as things like the depreciation and maintenance costs for your roof (your income generating asset), would far outweigh the benefits of the tax that you could possibly required to pay on the minimal amount of income.
Author:  werdna [ Aug 19th, '11, 15:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Synergy's paying me!
You would think that, but centrelink backcharge investment losses.

However you are confusing ATO law with centrelink rulings.
The ATO have declared it a hobby as you dont pass the enterprise test.
That means you cant declare it on your return and depreciate the panels.
Unless you have a rental property and install them on there.
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