Subsidies for residential solar photovoltaic energy systems in Western Australia: Distributional, procedural and outcome justice

Abstract

Governments seek to increase renewable energy capacity by providing subsidies to householders opting to install residential solar energy (photovoltaic) systems. The funds used to pay for these subsidies are sourced from tax revenue or electricity tariffs paid by all community members, including those on a low income. This sees a redistribution of funds from all community members to installers of residential solar energy systems. This research compared community attitudes towards distributional justice, or the fairness of this redistribution of funds, with outcome justice associated with the environmental benefits of renewable energy. A randomised survey distributed in four metropolitan and two regional communities in Western Australian resulted in 295 responses, a response rate of 22%. 33% of community members prioritised distributional justice, 30% prioritised outcome justice and 37% indicated that they were ‘unsure’ about their preference. However, support for renewable energy was found with 80% of respondents supportive of renewable energy subsidies and 68% supportive of renewable energy taxation, including in electricity tariffs. Qualitative comments indicate that in spite of the preoccupation with distributional justice in the residential solar energy literature, community members are concerned with procedural justice issues. In this case procedural justice can be interpreted as government commitment to existing policy, the expanded scope of renewable energy policy and enhanced regulations.