Introduction

In June 2004 the Prime Minister announced the $75 million Solar Cities program, where distributed solar technologies (including solar thermal and photovoltaic), energy efficiency, load management, smart meters and cost-reflective pricing will combine in grid-connected urban sites to trial new sustainable models for electricity supply and use.

Solar Cities will be implemented by the Australian Greenhouse Office through trials in Adelaide and at least three other electricity grid-connected urban areas around Australia.

On Wednesday 30th August 2006 the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, announced that the Adelaide Solar Citizens consortium had been chosen to deliver the Adelaide Solar City project.

The consortium is led by Origin Energy and includes BP Australia, ANZ, Delfin Lend Lease, Big Switch and the local councils of Adelaide City, Playford, Salisbury & Tea Tree Gully.

For more information or to register your interest in the program visit www.adelaidesolarcity.com.au .

South Australian Government support

The South Australian Government has approved the following support for the Adelaide-based Solar Cities trial:

    * Consider changes at State and Local Government levels to facilitate the Solar Cities initiative (which may include trials of cost reflective pricing, smart metering and revised planning arrangements that assist with the deployment of solar technologies), with the proviso that the Government will not support pricing or metering trials that result in households being financially worse off as a result of those trials;

    * Actively support State Government agencies and State Government funded organisations (such as schools) to participate in the Solar Cities initiative;

    * Where consistent with State government objectives, integrate the Solar Cities trial with related State Government programs;

    * Work with the Australian Government to develop and implement appropriate mechanisms and timelines for monitoring and evaluation of activities funded under this Agreement; and

    * Provide acknowledgement of the Australian Government's funding of the Solar Cities trials where appropriate.