Clause 5A.E.3(a) of the National Electricity Rules (NER) requires the Australian Energy Regulator to develop and publish guidelines for the development of connection policies by distribution network service providers.
On 6 April 2023, the AER released its final Connection charge guideline for electricity customers and accompanying explanatory note in light of changes made to the NER in August 2021.
Background (Static Zero Limit)
On 12 August 2021, the AEMC published its access, pricing and incentive arrangements for distributed energy resources final determination. The determination changed the energy rules with the aim of getting more small-scale solar into the grid, while supporting growth of batteries and electric vehicles.
On 6 April 2023, after a rigorous consultation process we published our final Connection charge guideline for electricity retail customers as required by the rule change. The key issue addressed in this review was to determine the limited circumstances when DNSPs may impose a static zero export limit on new micro embedded generators.
Background (SAPS)
On 24 February 2022, the Australian Energy Market Commission published new rules allowing distributors to provide stand-alone power systems (SAPS) to existing customers, and to offer to connect new customers to existing distributor-operated SAPS (also called regulated SAPS) where it is more economically efficient than connection to the interconnected national electricity system.
On 1 August 2022, we released an update to the Connection charge guideline to give effect to the new rules allowing distributors to provide SAPS to existing customers, and to offer to connect new customers to existing distributor-operated SAPS (also called regulated SAPS) where it is more economically efficient than connection to the interconnected national electricity system.