Starting July 1, 2024, Victoria will introduce an emergency backstop mechanism for rooftop solar systems. This proactive measure will allow electricity distributors to remotely reduce the output or switch off rooftop solar systems during periods of low electricity demand, ensuring the stability of the grid. The initiative aims to prevent overloading the grid, thus maintaining […]
Category: distribution companies
What is load shedding? And why might it cause blackouts?
If you’ve switched on the news this week, you’ve probably heard the term ‘load shedding’ in the context of the energy crisis that’s gripping the east coast of Australia. You may also have heard that if load shedding happens, there will be blackouts. And that these blackouts are likely in Queensland, NSW and possibly Victoria. […]
SolarEdge vs Enphase: Which is best for homeowners in the AusNet, United Energy and Jemena areas?
A question we are often asked is: “Which is the best solar system: SolarEdge or Enphase?”. This is a tough question to answer as both SolarEdge and Enphase are amongst the best solar power systems on the market as they optimise solar production at individual panel level (something conventional solar systems aren’t capable of). But […]
Zero exports for your solar panels system. What does it mean?
Before a new solar panels system can be installed, it must first be approved for connection to the electricity grid by the local network distributor. Generally, this happens without a hitch. But in a minority of cases, would-be solar owners are sometimes told their property is zero export limited for solar. If you get export […]
Will I be charged for my solar exports anytime soon?
You may have heard about a proposed “Sun Tax” on solar exports. Maybe you’ve seen recent media coverage about curtailment of rooftop solar. Clearly, there are challenges in the national electricity market. But does that mean you’re going to be charged for exporting your surplus solar to the grid? The short answer is ‘probably not’. […]
What are distributor inverter limits?
When you’re looking into getting solar panels on your home or business, you may hear the term, ‘distributor inverter limits’. You may even be told that you can’t have the size system you want because of these limits. For anyone new to solar, it’s fair enough to query these limits. Why put a limit on […]