Our approach to Distributed Energy Resource (DER) compliance is changing
Our goal is to ensure that every approved and installed system meets DER compliance requirements.
Why are we talking about compliance?
A transformation is underway in how we make and use electricity. South Australia is leading the world in the adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and here at SA Power Networks, we’re committed to enabling the energy transition.
We are working to double the amount of solar we can accommodate on our network by 2025. Getting compliance right for all small embedded generation (SEG) systems means we can:
- reduce the risk of widespread power outages
- provide all customers fair access to the network
- enable the continued connection of solar and batteries in SA, and support the ongoing prosperity of the solar industry
- better plan and operate the network to enable this future.
Our goal is to ensure that every approved and installed system meets DER compliance requirements.
The first step towards achieving this is to ensure every installation is closed out in SmartInstall.
What can you do now?
- Make sure you use SmartInstall to close out all installations.
- You can use SmartApply to check which sites are not closed out in SmartInstall:
- Simply filter your SmartApply dashboard by ‘Approved’ status and you can then export this data to excel.
- Watch this quick user video for help - How to export application data to excel
- If you have approved applications that have been installed but not closed out, please contact your installer to close out as soon as possible.
- If you have approved applications that are 'Approved' but the install has not or will not go ahead, these applications should be cancelled so they are no longer counted. Click the 'Settings' button then 'Cancel Application'.
- In partnership with the Clean Energy Council, we have developed a free course ‘SA Power Networks Embedded Generation Compliance’ worth 30 Core CPD points. It is available by logging into the Clean Energy Council Learning Hub. To enrol, use the enrolment key ‘ThanksSAPN’
- Reach out to us for a compliance ‘Health Check’. We'll supply a snapshot of your compliance, a list of non-compliant sites, and advise you on the necessary steps to fix non-compliances.
What’s coming up?
Across 2023, we will be ramping up our commitment to ensure DER compliance.
We want to make it easy for you to achieve compliance. We are developing automated compliance monitoring functionality, training materials, and a compliance dashboard.
These new features will be available in SmartApply and SmartInstall and provide self-service functionality, making it even easier to see what needs to be fixed and support users to understand their roles and responsibilities of DER compliance.
How we will support you
Our dedicated New Energy Services Team has been set up to engage with, train, and provide tailored, ongoing support to solar retailers and installers, so that we can work together to meet compliance goals.
Contact us
- By email at newenergyservices@sapowernetworks.com.au,
- or by phone on 13 12 61 (press option 2).