Meeting DER Compliance

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Compliance is foundational to support the growth of renewables, uphold a stable power system and ensure the continued prosperity of the solar industry.

To meet compliance requirements all approved SEG applications must be closed out in SmartInstall at the time of installation. Our SmartApply and SmartInstall portals are self-service and user friendly to make meeting DER Compliance requirements easy.

What Makes DER Applications and installations non-compliant?

The following non-compliant application scenarios are currently captured and count towards your compliance percentage:

• An ECoC has been received but the application has not been closed out in SmartInstall
• The device has not been registered for a flexible installation
• A capability test has not been completed or has failed in SmartInstall

Other forms of non-compliant applications and installations that we will be looking at capturing in the near future include;

• Alternate evidence of installation where the application has not been closed out in SmartInstall
• The system is exporting more than the approved export limit
• The inverter has been commissioned with incorrect volt var settings
• Relevant Agent has not been set up correctly on site as per the Smarter Homes regulations

Your Compliance Percentage

Your compliance percentage is calculated using the number of approved applications not closed out in SmartInstall and your total number of approved applications. This is visible on your SmartApply dashboard.

All Solar Retailers need to keep their compliance rate at or above 90%. Should a user drop below 90%, this will be shown in the dashboard, requesting you to take action.

From 19th May 2023, if you are one of multiple users with the same domain name, it is important to note you will also see a compliance percentage grouped for that domain name. You will see a percentage based on all compliant and non-compliant applications for the company, as well as your individual compliance score.

Consequences for Non-Compliant DER installations

From 19 May 2023, to help achieve and maintain compliance we are introducing automated compliance management with a three-stage warning process. This warning process will begin when less than 90% of your installed sites are compliant. An application is deemed non-compliant when evidence of install is received but the application has not been closed out in SmartInstall. Your live compliance percentage is visible in SmartApply to allow you to monitor and track progress. If the percentage drops below 90% the following process will commence:

• First warning – SA Power Networks will issue an email to the solar retailer (i.e. all SmartApply users with the same domain name) when compliance rate drops below 90%. This email will include instructions on how to undertake actions to rectify the issues and advise that the ability to submit SEG applications will be blocked if compliance rate remains below 90% for 21 days. 
• Second warning – if compliance rate remains under 90% for seven days from the date of the first warning, the second warning will be issued.
• Third warning – if compliance rate remains under 90% for 14 days from the date of the first warning, the final warning will be issued.
• Ability to submit new SEG applications blocked – if compliance rate remains under 90% for 21 days from the date of the first warning, your ability to submit a new SEG application will be restricted. You will be able to submit new applications again once your compliance rate goes above 90%.

If at any point during the warning process your compliance percentage is at 90% or above, the warning process will be ceased. If you fall below 90% again, the process will begin from the first warning. 

From 19 May 2023 all sites that were approved through SmartApply (from June 2021) and not closed out in SmartInstall will contribute to the non-compliance percentage. The other compliance focus areas will be incorporated as they are rolled out across 2023 and 2024.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Our SmartApply and SmartInstall portals are self-service and user friendly to make meeting DER compliance requirements easy.  

1. Action non-compliant applications. You can view them by ‘non-compliant’ filter in SmartApply. It will tell you actions needing undertaking to make it compliant.   
2. Communicate the importance of DER compliance and how to meet the requirements with your colleagues and solar installers.
3. Educate your team on how to use SmartApply and SmartInstall dashboard, and how to use SmartApply and SmartInstall through our range of Embedded Generation User Guides and watch the industry webinar on consequences for DER non-compliance.
4. Reach out to our New Energy Services team if you have any questions or require support:
   • Phone on 1300 665 913 (during office hours Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm) 
   • Email at newenergyservices@sapowernetworks.com.au