Solar Power - The New Headline Act!

What a year it has been for solar! Constant chopping and changing to rebates and incentives has ensured that renewable energy is never far from the front page of the newspapers. While it is extremely frustrating to have such frequent and profound alterations to the regulatory regime, at least we can now see that solar power is very much in the mainstream and there to stay.

As we go to press, the NSW government is planning to introduce shameful retrospective laws changing the previously legislated 60 cent tariff to 40 cents, thus cheating 110 000 households out of the income they had calculated to earn on their environmentally aware investment. This means that all the honest citizens who faithfully took up the governments own scheme are being treated like tax cheats or criminals. Shame on you Barry O’Farrell.

The big message that our governments need to take out of all of this is that Australians love and support the renewable energy industry. Every time a government proposes a new scheme, it is taken up with such gusto by the forward thinking citizens of this sun soaked land that it invariably needs to be taken to an early conclusion.

So what is next?
Solar power can still be a very good investment, particularly if you use the bulk of your power during the day. For example, a business which can use up all the capacity of their panels at the time of the power generation will benefit to the tune of their normal power tariff, and as we all know this is set to double in the next few years. In fact, installation of a solar power system is a good hedge against unexpected increases in the cost of electricity. For example, a high quality 3 kilowatt (16 panel) system costs in the order of $13,000 installed after rebates and generates over $1,200 worth of electricity each year based on today’s prices. These savings will multiply as the price of power rises sharply in the next few years.

Alternatively, for the house holder, a well designed system used in combination with targeted time of day power use can have the same benefits. The tremendous growth in the solar sector (over 120,000 households in NSW now have solar powered rooftops), the cost of the average installation has decreased considerable over the past couple of years.

So talk to your local renewable energy retailer to find a solution tailored to your particular situation.

Accounting

Peter Fowler

Peter Fowler Collins Hume

Collins Hume has over 12 years experience in finance and is a specialist in driving business forward while working smarter not harder. Awarded CPA Australia’s Top 40 Young Business Leaders 2012 he helps make things happen.

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• Some Business Owners Get it. How Can You?Mar 22, 2013

Banking and Finance

Leo Senese

Leo Senese RBS morgans

Leo Senese, RBS Morgans, with 17 years of experience in the financial markets with Westpac, Goldman Sachs JB and RBS Morgans he is a specialist in income investments. His primary focus is to generate tax effective enhanced income solutions.

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• Get Global Commodity Exposure in the Australian Share MarketAug 30, 2011
• The Changing Face of Fixed InterestNov 30, 2011
• Are you prepared for Retirement?Mar 13, 2012
• Don't Pay More Tax Than You Have ToJun 14, 2012
• Working Your Cash HarderSep 03, 2012
• Getting the Best Yield for Your InvestmentNov 30, 2012
• Cash Rate Falls: Yield Remains King!Mar 22, 2013

Business Efficiency

Clayton Oates

Clayton Oates QA Business

Clayton Oates, QA Business, our Channel 7 business efficiency guru cuts through the red tape and helps you streamline your business to make things happen.

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• Business Costs - Are They Adding Value?Aug 12, 2010
• Moments of TruthNov 16, 2010
• Is your Accountant Necessary?May 09, 2011
• Where Has Our “Disposable Time” Gone?Jun 07, 2011
• Using the Internet to Buy LocallyAug 30, 2011
• Is your head in the Cloud?Nov 30, 2011
• Do Apps – Add Up?Mar 13, 2012
• Future Shock – It’s Here AgainJun 14, 2012
• The Cloud - What’s Old is New AgainSep 03, 2012
• How Disruptive is your Business?Nov 30, 2012
• Clouds Have Different ShapesMar 22, 2013

Employment & Training

Meg Nichols

Meg Nichols EnviTE Inc

General Manager EnviTE Inc, providing advice on the Northern Rivers employment market, recruitment, industry trends and best practice.

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• Employing People with Disability Makes Good Business SenseDec 04, 2012
• Employing Youth Expands Your Business OpportunitiesMar 22, 2013

Marketing

Moyra Burke-Smith

Moyra Burke-Smith AM Marketing

Moyra Burke-Smith, AM Marketing – with over 20 years of marketing experience for both small and large companies in Europe and Australia she is our expert at making your marketing work for your business. In her spare time she makes a mean mojito.

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• Make Them HappyAug 12, 2010
• 7 Sins of MarketingNov 17, 2010
• Sins of Marketing part 2May 09, 2011
• Get HelpJun 07, 2011
• Promote Your Company WellAug 30, 2011
• Get Into E-tailNov 30, 2011
• Are You Loyal to Your Customers?Mar 13, 2012
• You Are Your BusinessJun 14, 2012
• Social Media - Making it Work for Your BusinessMar 22, 2013

Renewable Energy

Roly Barrett

Roly Barrett Green Up

Roly Barrett is a Sustainability Assessor & Solar Energy Advisor and Sales Manager of Greenup Australia, a Ballina solar and energy efficiency company. Roly spends a lot of time on roofs across the Northern Rivers assessing solar potential and in restaurants

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• Small Business Tax Break for Solar PowerSep 03, 2012
• How to Avoid an Electric ShockNov 30, 2012
• The Future Looks Bright.. with LEDsMar 22, 2013

Telecommunications

Scott Hales

Scott Hales Barefoot Telecom

Barefoot Telecom has been in the telecommunications industry for 14 years, working in many different roles for a number of providers. He is passionate about providing exceptional customer service and building long standing relationships with his clientele.

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• Communicate The Way YOU Want ToMar 22, 2013

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