Generous Enova Customer Donates $900 FIT Credit to One Deserving Local Householder
An Enova customer who earned $900 in credit from the solar his household generates is donating this money to pay the electricity bill of a struggling householder needing a helping hand.
Michael Qualmann has been passionate about solar since before it’s mass introduction to New South Wales via generous feed-in tariffs offered by the State Government several years ago.
Michael works in the industry and has been training and supervising Enova’s volunteer Enova Energy Coach’s – helping people to understand their energy usage and how to put the right solar system in place for their home.
Generous offer to struggling household
Michael has benefited so greatly from having solar that he now has NO energy bills – his household generates all the electricity it needs, and then, the surplus he feeds back to Enova earns Michael money. He has, since Enova’s inception 3 years ago, not paid a single bill, and has amassed a significant $900 credit on his account.
“I feel privileged and sad at the same time,” says Michael. “It’s bittersweet knowing that while I am able to generate all of my energy free from the sun, many households struggle with their energy bills. My credit at Enova is getting bigger – and I decided that it’s time to donate this $900 to a household that’s really struggling,” says Michael.
Solar – cheap and efficient
“While there are still some sceptics who question the economic viability of solar – the cost of installing a system, versus the real financial benefit to households, the proof exists that it’s an affordable solution that makes a real difference to energy bills. Michael is a good case study,” says Enova Energy MD Tony Pfeiffer.
“When the right system is installed, and used to its best advantage, taking into account the household’s use of electricity, then there can be big payoffs,” he says.
“It’s a sad reality that many Australian households experience energy bill stress. Over the past several years the big industry players and the Federal Government have done virtually nothing to help those households that are really in dire straits – sometimes forgoing groceries in order to pay their bills.
And it’s frustrating that they all keep side-lining Solar. It offers a real solution – Australia is one of the sunniest countries in the world – it simply makes sense to harness the power of this natural resource, and Enova is working on a number of initiatives including working with North Coast Community Housing to install panels for lower-income earners and those on benefits who live in these homes. We know we can reduce the cost of energy for them. We are also developing a solar garden which enables people to access solar even when they are renting or can’t afford a system of their ow. We have assisted many households to access concessions they didn’t know they were entitled to, and we have helped numerous community groups to install solar panels, so they can reduce their electricity bills.
At Enova we are passionate about making renewable energy accessible for everyone.
The Government needs to do more
“Michael’s generosity is very admirable,” says Tony Pfeiffer. “But then, this is a community which rallies together, and which, in many instances just gets on with making positive change while the politicians just talk about it, and Enova is immensely proud to be part of it.
“We know that one household this year will have the pressure taken off their household budget, and we’re aiming to help more.”
“The energy industry as a whole, supported by Government, needs to become more forward thinking in its support of solar – it has great benefits – not just in terms of being kinder on the environment than traditional fossil fuel generation, but that it can be harnessed cheaply and efficiently.”
If you’re interested in paying your FIT forward to another Enova customer in genuine need, please email customercare@enovaenergy.com.au
