MEDIA RELEASE
30 January 2014	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	05/2014

The percentage of South Australian residences with renewable electricity systems, such as solar panels, has increased by 352 per cent between 2010 and 2012 according to a new report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"South Australia leads the other states with 16 per cent (120,477) of residences having renewable electricity systems in 2012." said Peter Williams, Director of the ABS' Centre of Environment Statistics.

"This was followed by Queensland on 14 per cent (260,307) and Western Australia on 11 per cent (102,142)."

The average amount of renewable electricity generated by residences over the period has increased for all states.

"Queensland lead the other states in renewable electricity generated (and exported from the residence) with an average of 1,513 kWh per residence in 2012 which is a 213 per cent increase from 2010", said Mr Williams.

The report also showed that the average amount of electricity supplied to residences without renewable electricity systems has decreased over the same period. Tasmania was the state with the largest decrease (17 per cent) between 2010 and 2012. Despite this decline, Tasmanian residences without renewable electricity systems were on average the largest electricity consumers (7,324 kWh) of all states in 2012, while the state that consumed the least amount of electricity in 2012 was Victoria (4,793 kWh).

Media Note:

• When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
• Data for ACT and NT is not published in this release.