Emergency backstop for minimum demand events

The Victorian Government is requiring electricity distribution businesses to be able to remotely reduce or stop exports from new rooftop solar connections. To comply with the government’s requirements, we are developing technology that will change the way solar customers are connected to our networks.

The changes will help to manage rare occasions when solar generation is high and demand for energy is low, which can result in supply interruptions across the power network. This will ensure we can provide a reliable, stable supply of power to all customers and connect more renewable energy to the network.

These excess energy events can supply interruptions, so we are developing a new way to temporarily reduce or stop exports from solar homes when requested by the AEMO.

Excess energy events are more likely to occur on mild, sunny weekend days or public holidays. This is because solar generation is high, but the demand for electricity is low because people aren't heating or cooling their homes, and other energy intensive processes are powered down.

We will only use the new capability to manage rare system emergencies when required by the AEMO.

We will initially only reduce solar exports so customers can continue to self-consume the electricity they generate. If the grid is still not secure, we may turn off solar generation, but only ever as a last resort for short periods of time. The impact to customers from these emergency events will be minimal.

We will unlock capacity for more renewable energy to connect to the network, achieve our emissions reduction targets and ensure customers have access to stable and reliable power supplies.

Eventually, the technology supporting the emergency backstop will enable more cost-effective and smarter connections for customer energy resources (eg solar and batteries).

The change will only apply to new solar inverters (with a capacity of less than 200kVA) connected to systems after 1 October 2024. This includes newly installed solar systems, upgraded systems and some existing systems that have a replacement inverter installed.

Applications to connect solar that are made before 1 October will be unaffected.

Impacts will vary for different households, but the Victorian Government predicts the changes will cost households with solar between $4 and $7 per year.

Yes, there will some changes to the way rooftop solar is installed and configured. From 1 October, new solar installers must ensure:

• A compatible inverter is installed: this allows the export and generation from the inverter to be remotely managed.
• There is a reliable internet connection: this ensures the distribution businesses can communicate with the inverter.
• They undertake a commissioning process: this will ensure the solar generation can be turned down or switched off in an emergency.

Information and training will be available to solar installers before the new requirements are activated. We are currently updating our systems and will provide information about how to access these resources in the weeks ahead.

Yes. We are currently working closely with solar equipment manufacturers and installer representative groups to prepare for the changes. This will provide a list of solar inverters that are approved to connect to our networks and determine the training and information installers will need to accommodate the new connection process.

Applications to connect solar that are approved prior to 1 October are not subject to the new requirements. All new, upgrading and replacement solar connections (with a capacity of 200kVA or less) approved after 1 October must comply with the Victorian Government mandate.

The Victorian Government has published information about the new requirements on its website.

We will also be providing information and training to solar installers before the new requirements are activated. More information on this will be released soon.