The commission is to consult with key interest groups and affected parties, including representatives of end-use electricity consumers.

Treasurer Kim Wells said: "This inquiry will assist the Coalition Government in developing fair and cost-effective arrangements for the future, which is particularly important ahead of the implementation of a national carbon price.”

The terms of reference for the inquiry require the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission to:

  • Consider how efficient and effective feed-in tariffs are as a greenhouse gas reduction program
  • Provide a recommendation as to whether feed-in tariffs should be continued, changed or phased out
  • Identify barriers to a network of distributed renewable and low emission generation in Victoria, including co-generation and tri-generation.

Article continues below…

From 1 January 2012, eligible Victorian customers with small-scale solar PV systems have received credits for their excess energy fed back into the grid through the State’s new Transitional Feed-in Tariff.

The Transitional Feed-in Tariff, which replaced the closed Premium Feed-in Tariff, offers eligible properties with a solar PV system of 5 kW or less a credit of at least 25 cents per kilowatt hour for excess electricity fed back into the grid.