2017/18 Synergy REBS Rate & Meter Charges Changes
Meter Charges
Investing in a new solar PV system for your home will require you to purchase or update to a bi-directional meter.
This will monitor and report both the incoming and outgoing electricity, and your electricity bills will then take into account the lower amounts of electricity you’ll need to buy from the grid, plus credits for the electricity generated by your solar power system that you don’t use.
Old spinning disc meter
If you have an old spinning disc meter, you will require a new bi-directional meter, which Western Power will install once requested by your electricity retailer.
Digital meter
If you already have a digital meter, it will more than likely only require a reprogram in order to measure bi-directional power flow.
Upgrades and reprogramming
All meter upgrades and reprogramming are completed by Western Power as instructed by Synergy. All associated costs are charged by Synergy, and will appear on your next Synergy bill.
As of July 1 2017, Synergy has increased their meter charges to the following:
Existing Homes
| Meter | Cost (Inc. GST) |
| SmartPower™ Single Phase 240V Meter | $138.24 |
| SmartPower™ Three Phase 415V Meter | $235.04 |
| Reprogram Fee | $74.00 |
New homes
| Meter | Cost (Inc. GST) |
| SmartPower™ Single Phase 240V Meter | $138.24 |
| SmartPower™ Three Phase 415V Meter | $235.04 |
While new homes were previously required to pay $66.00 for their meter, Synergy has increased these prices to match the fees of existing homes.
Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS)
Renewable Energy Buyback – Residential Customers
Both Synergy’s Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme administration fee of $26.40 and Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme rate of 7.1350 cents/kWh for residential customers has remained the same.
Renewable Energy Buyback – Commercial Customers (Non-profit Organisations and Educational Institutions)
REBS is only available to non-profit organisations and educational institutions that have a small solar system between 500 watts and 5kW.
Rates have reduced by an average of 40% and are as follows:
| C1 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flat rate | 7.1350 |
| D1 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flate rate | 7.1350 |
| L1 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flat rate | 7.1350 |
| L3 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flat rate | 7.1350 |
| R3 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flat rate | 7.1350 |
| R1 Tariff | Bought for (cents/kWh) |
| Flat rate | 7.1350 |
For more information, visit Synergy’s website.
