Rooftop solar

Once you have engaged an accredited solar installer, they will apply on your behalf for an assessment of export approval via our myEnergy portal. This takes into consideration the capacity of our network in your area to accept extra power from your system. Over 95% of people will typically be approved for the amount they want to export, depending on the size of their planned solar system. At the moment, we have a 5kW maximum limit on exports. Your application will be answered on the same day, usually within minutes.

We’ll ask your solar installer for your information at this point too so we can keep you informed about the progress of your installation directly.

Once your application has been approved, your installer can proceed with the installation of the solar panels, inverter and supporting hardware. Your installer will then raise a connection request with us.

It is important that the installer uses an approved solar inverter. As well as converting your solar energy into power you can use in your home, it links with our electricity network and is a safety device. Ensure your select an inverter approved by the Clean Energy Council for use in Victoria. It will make a difference to getting the best results from your system.

Once your solar panels are installed and an inspection has been completed, your installer will submit an Alteration Connection Request via our online application connection service to start the configuration process.

Your solar installer will need to ensure the solar system is installed in a way that complies with our technical standards. Once it’s commissioned, they’ll send us a report to demonstrate that all the settings are correct.

A compliant system is one where:

• Australia A settings are in place on the inverter
• any export limits have been correctly applied
• an internet connection has been enabled so we can communicate with your inverter.

You’ll need to provide your solar installer with the details of your home’s internet connection to allow for this.

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Once we’ve confirmed the system has been installed correctly and received a Certificate of Electrical Safety from your installer, then we’ll notify your energy retailer.

This will advise of a change to your meter and that your home is now an ‘embedded generator’ approved for solar exports. Your energy retailer (the company that sends your electricity bill) will want to work with you directly to agree the feed-in tariff you are entitled to be paid for the kilowatts you export.

Now your connection is complete your solar system will start to reduce your energy bills and household emissions.

You may be eligible for a rebate to reduce the upfront cost of installing solar panels. The Victorian Government provides information about rebates and eligibility through Solar Victoria.

Energy Consumers Australia also provide information and resources to help to choose the right solar system to suit your household’s needs.

Self-consumption is key to getting the most value from your solar. While you receive a small payment for energy exported to the grid, it is less than you will pay to buy energy when your system isn’t generating energy.

To maximise your self-consumption and unlock the greatest savings, aim to use as much of your power as possible during daylight hours. There are a variety of ways to shift your loads to these periods, including:

• operating appliances manually if you are home
• setting timers on devices that have them
• buying smart-plugs to control power outlets remotely
• investing in smart devices or a home energy management system to automate household processes.

When planning your investment in a solar system, consider whether you want it to be set up so it will operate independently if the power goes out. Your solar system runs on electricity that is provided by our networks. So if there is an outage for any reason, then your system will stop generating power. Speak with your solar installer about how to set it up for any occasion.

As your Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP), we are responsible for moving energy around the network to where it is needed. That includes managing the surplus energy that solar households export to the network.

If you are approved to export your extra energy, your electricity retailer will provide a solar feed-in tariff – a rate paid to customers for the energy they put into the grid for others to use.

The Victorian feed-in tariff scheme commenced in 2013 and the minimum feed-in rate is revised regularly. The revised rate considers the following factors:

• wholesale electricity market prices
• distribution and transmission losses avoided by the supply of small-scale renewable energy generation electricity
• avoided social and health costs attributable to a reduction in air pollution.

Further information regarding eligibility and feed-in tariff rates can be found at energy.vic.gov.au.

The Victorian Premium Feed-in Tariff (PFiT) was launched in November 2009 and is closed to new applicants. Existing customers may remain on the PFiT until the scheme is closed in November 2024. The maximum installed capacity for PFiT customers is 5kW and eligible customers will receive a minimum of 60 cents per kWh for their exports.

PFiT customers can switch electricity retailers and continue to receive their payments. Customers should check with their retailer prior to switching if there are any exit fees under their existing contract.

Any house signed up to PFiT will remain eligible for the scheme regardless of whether the house is sold and new residents move in. If a customer increases their solar capacity, they will no longer be eligible for PFiT payments.