LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Renewable energy
Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) (formerly Fiji Electricity Authority [FEA]) once boasted of its plan to be on 95 per cent renewable energy by 2015.
Then, they moved it to 80 per cent by 2020 and 99 per cent by 2030.
Two of those milestones have come and gone but EFL is nowhere near those ambitious targets.
Their latest proposal to levy a fixed charge to seek ” … protection against solar developers” presents a clue as to why EFL may be missing its renewable energy targets.
Clearly, it is seeking to preserve its monopoly and keep filling its coffers at the expense of Fijian consumers and more particularly, manufacturers.
EFL does not seem to want anyone else producing electricity.
Their proposal to levy a fixed charge discourages independent power production as producers will be forced to pay a fixed cost, even if they don’t consume any EFL power.
While EFL may be justified in charging a premium on “backup” electricity drawn by solar-powered consumers, there can be no justification for levying a fixed charge.
EFL is a dangerous runaway train that needs to be stopped and FCCC needs to play a regulator’s role in this rather than the silent enabler that it inevitably ends up being in matters involving State-owned enterprises.
Feedback: letters@fijisun.com.fj
