Could you tell us some more about this buying collective? Is there a webpage or something?

I forgot to mention in the article that some local councils also offer rebates of (from what I saw) $100-$500. I forgot it because mine doesn't :(

Local Power's website is

http://www.localpower.net.au/

There were also a few paragraphs about them in another recent ReNew magazine.

For reference, those ReNew magazine articles

#105 (Oct-Dec 2008), p34, Don’t wreck those RECs
#106 (Jan-Mar 2009), p36, Bulk buying: New ways for solar