Dear Sir,

The Feed-In Tariff has been reduced from $0.2265/kWh to $0.131/kWh, a reduction of 42.16 per cent for those folks who have installed solar panels. No fuel charges are incurred for electricity produced by such panels. However, when Belco sells that back to customers, each kilowatt-hour bears the Fuel Adjustment Rate of $0.16513 plus the Regulatory Authority charge of $0.00545/kWh.

In effect, by reducing the FIT to $0.131 and not having to pay the FAR of $0.16513, Belco makes a profit of $0.03413/kWh on every kWh of energy received from its customers. Is this fair or is it highway robbery?

It would be interesting to know what Belco pays the Government for the electricity generated at the Tynes Bay Incinerator? Has it been $0.2265/kWh?

The other solar-panel array at the old airport produces electricity that is being fed into the grid. How much does Belco pay the company per kWh?

It would be interesting to have clear answers to the above questions.

ANTONY SIESE

Paget