STAND-alone power supplies (SAPS) could save the State Government millions of dollars in implementing Royal Commission recommendations, according to supporters of renewable energy technology.

The Alternative Technology Association is urging the State Government to consider grants for families in bushfire prone areas to set up SAPS as a cost effective alternative to aerial bundled or underground power cables.

The Bushfires Royal Commission recommended the state progressively replace all single-wire earth return (SWER) powerlines with aerial bundled cable, underground cabling or other technology in areas of highest bushfire risk within 10 years.

Kilmore resident Stephen Johnson said both financial and environmental benefits made SAPS a viable option for his new home in Clonbinane.

“We selected to go with an off-the-grid power supply, a solar and wind hybrid system,” Mr Johnson said.

“The main reason was the cost of putting in renewable power was similar to running a power line to the property. At the time we put our power in, the Federal Government was offering a 50 per cent rebate. That’s finished now, but I think it should be brought back in; it was a big incentive for us.”

Mr Johnson admitted stand-alone power wasn’t for everyone but agreed government investment could make it a more attractive option.

For Wallan resident Jim Brown it was the financial rather than environmental benefits that attracted him to SAPS.

Building near Wallan in 2002, Mr Brown faced a $45,000 bill to run an overground power cable to connect to the grid.

“By the time I covered all the costs to connect to the grid, a solar/wind setup cost about the same, but I was also able to get a partial rebate from the Federal Government,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown now runs a wind/solar system with a back-up diesel generator and while he doesn’t pay a power bill, he still needs to maintain and service the system.

“There are some things you have to do like scrub the solar panels every six months,” he said.

“You also have to consider the depreciation costs, especially the batteries. If the government did more to promote these systems it would be a better situation with more people available to service them.”

Alternative Technology Association (ATA) energy policy advocate Craig Memery said the business case for the replacement of some remote powerlines with stand-alone power supplies (SAPS) was compelling.

“The cost of SAPS components such as solar panels has dropped significantly, and at the same time the cost of new power lines, along with the cost of electricity, has increased dramatically,” Mr Memery said.

Mr Memery said the replacement of some remote powerlines with renewable energy could save hundreds of millions of dollars from the cost of the solutions proposed by the Bushfire Royal Commission.

The State Government is yet to release a final response to the Commission’s report.