Energy Matters Forums

[dkat]

Hi, At the moment is there a solution that is cost effective for an investor to install solar on their investment property? basically the question would be......If i were an investor is there a way of installing solar and getting the full benefit of it, by keeping the bill in my name and then installing a sub meter to the house circuits such that the tenant may purchase elctricity on a pay as you go basis?

[Tracker]

If i were an investor is there a way of installing solar and getting the full benefit of it,

NO....


I understand that to be the answer, because the supply authorities link the PV generation to the USAGE account - AT THAT ADDRESS.
ALSO, now that GROSS FIT is GONE, (you did not say where you were), NET metering means that there is no separate meter, anyway.
The only way that you might work it would be if you owned the other villa - on the same block, and you could just install the hardware on the second unit , but apply it's function to YOUR account/meter.

If I'm wrong, then people will be jumping in !
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[Inspector]

The "sub" meter would be a net meter anyway (unless it was a "dumb" meter and didn't wind backwards when current flow was in the reverse direction - which would be ideally what you are after).

[Tracker]

and then installing a sub meter to the house circuits such that the tenant may purchase elctricity on a pay as you go basis?

I suppose that I did not really answer the question. BUT.
Technically, legally, what is a sub meter.. If it is just something to estimate how much "They" have used, then I wonder if it has any legal standing under rental/tenancy laws.

The other thought has two parts.
Firstly a new PV installation might attract TOU billing, and it would be hard to install a TOU meter.
(I am assuming that the Supply Authority, will not be jumping to any request to install a sub meter for dodgy reasons)
The only way that it would WORK was if you had GROSS metering, and then you would have two separate parts to the bill.. ie. IMPORT and EXPORT.. Then , you could pass on the consumption (if legal under tenancy laws.)
Otherwise with ANY NET Metering, surely, THEY would be getting most all the benefit, unless the Soalr, feeds in AFTER the sub-meter..
...
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[karlajensen]

any rental property it would simply be treated as any other feature and could help you get better rent for the property a 1.5kW system could attract a rent of an extra $10 per week but in reality only offer a benefit of say $6 a week to the tennant.

Hence as it would add value to the property and hence bump it up in rental income for very little outlay, then my answer would be a very prudent investment decision.

[Tracker]

If i were an investor, is there a way of installing solar and getting the FULL benefit of it, by keeping the bill in my name

As is usually the case, we don't have ALL the details.. like which State.. so precise comment is impossible..

......as it would add value to the property and hence bump it up in rental income for very little outlay,

Karl, I really doubt that PV would cause a renter to WANT to pay more for the property (even if THEY got the benefit), and the original desire was to install the system and the OWNER gets ALL the income from the FIT, which would need to be GROSS, for max. benefit.
The only exception would be in a VERY tight market, where folk were desperate for very limited accommodation, and would accept ANY strange arrangements.
In NSW - there would never be GROSS FIT, and thus NET FIT would need some fancy calculations to determine the "Benefit" to the owner and the BILL to the tenant.

So, there are two technical questions.. Can a property have a renter and have the electricity-bill in the owner's name.. I suspect YES.
BUT - Secondly, does Rental Law allow the owner to pass-on the cost of electricity, and then what is the COST.
Technically the COST would be the BILL, but that includes the SOLAR FIT, which the owner wants. Thus the owner would have to re-calculate the energy bill.
I know that I cannot pass on "UNMETERED" usage to a tenant.
I can pass on Metered-usage, because I have the measured proof.. and in this case the owner's energy bill (NET) will not show the actual COST, and somehow, the owner would have to estimate the tenants cost..

Again, in a tight housing market, you might get away with anything, that was not illegal ie. subsequently challengeable, and believe me, you never leave issues challengeable, as you WILL find that YOU will be the looser, when the tenant (ready to move on) refuses to pay rent and takes you to the tribunal, and then appeals and appeals and after many months, then just leaves, owing the lot!....

So, unless you can get a bill-able Sub-Meter.... .... and I just can't see any supply authority doing it..
...again... we don't know all the facts.. eg. a rented Granny-Flat could have Solar (fed back to the main house) and a Sub-Meter.
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