Solar group critical of power price cuts

Households with solar power in South Australia are being unfairly targeted by the power distribution company, a solar advocacy group says.

SA Power Networks on Tuesday announced plans to cut electricity prices for all homes in SA, but those with solar panels will get the smallest cut.

The Solar Citizens group says solar homes reduce pressure on the network so offering them a smaller reduction is just a money grab.

"Solar households are most common in lower income suburbs. The main reason these families go solar is to help with the rising cost of power bills," national director Claire O'Rourke said in a statement on Wednesday.

In a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator, SA Power Networks said hardship customers across SA would get a $386 cut in electricity bills in 2015/16 while others would get a $188 reduction, provided retailers pass on the savings.

However, households with solar panels would have their discounts reduced to just $88 to reflect the higher load they place on the network relative to the power they consume.

The South Australian Council of Social Service said it was also worried by the move against solar users, as it could force more to go off-grid with the development of improved battery technology.

"Those without the resources to install those kinds of technologies will be left on the grid and in that scenario will inevitably end up paying more and more for that opportunity," SACOSS executive director Ross Womersley said.