The 6 steps of new solar connections
1. Choosing a solar retailer or installer
You can buy your solar system from either a:
- Solar installer: they will sell you a rooftop solar system and do the installation. Your contract will be with the installer.
- Solar retailer: they will sell you a rooftop solar system and you will have a contract with them. The retailer can suggest installers, or may subcontract to an accredited installer to install and set up your system.
Take your time when choosing a solar retailer or installer. It’s important to find someone reputable that you can trust to provide you with a compliant system and answer all your questions. It’s also good to ask about post-installation support.
To find an approved solar retailer, visit the New Energy Tech Consumer website. To check if the installer is accredited and complies to service standards, visit the Solar Accreditation Australia website.
2. Request pre-approval
Before you sign a contract to buy a solar system, there are a few important steps you must complete or confirm with your installer and us:
- We need to confirm that the system you are thinking of buying is safe to install and connect to our network. Your installer can lodge the pre-approval application on your behalf – you will need to give them your NMI and meter number (these can be found on your power bill). You (the electricity account holder) can also apply for pre-approval, if you know what to request. Notifications about your application will be emailed to the electricity account holder, so make sure we have your current email address.
- Once submitted, we’ll review the application to make sure that our network can accept the extra power from your system when it exports to the grid. We automatically approve standard residential applications. Larger solar systems or residential applications seeking additional capacity (beyond a standard application) are manually assessed at a cost.
- We then determine if you can install your solar system under a Model Standing Offer or if we need to establish a negotiated agreement.
Note: depending on where you live, you may require planning approval from your local council. You will need to contact them to find out.
What is a Model Standing Offer?
The basic connection contract between AusNet and each solar customer is called a Model Standing Offer (MSO) (PDF, 386 KB). The MSO are the solar connection terms and conditions that have been approved by the Australian Energy Regulator.
It allows us to offer a free and immediate pre-approval process if your connection request is within our business rules. You agree to the terms and conditions of the MSO at the start of your solar journey, but these contract terms actually start once your solar system has been installed and connected.
Solar installers can agree to the terms and conditions of an MSO on your behalf in the application process. The MSO confirms that the system you’re planning to install will have the correct inverter settings applied.
This is important because it keeps our network safe by establishing how much solar power is exported across our network to manage supply and demand.
An MSO confirms the obligations of the electricity account holder and allows us to check if the system is operating in line with the agreed conditions. It also confirms our rights to turn down or switch off a customer’s solar exports in a solar emergency backstop event. For more information, see Solar emergency backstop.
With so many homes and businesses installing rooftop solar across Victoria, a MSO ensures we can effectively manage the flow of electricity to maintain network reliability for all customers.
3. Installation
When your solar retailer applies for pre-approval, a copy of the pre-approval will be sent to the electricity account holder (customer). We get customer details from the retailer, so make sure your retailer has your current and correct details. If you have submitted and received a pre-approval, please share your confirmation email with your installer – only a solar installer can complete the post-installation form. You are now at the exciting stage, installation!
Your chosen solar installer will install your solar panels, inverter and hardware and connect it to the internet – upgrading your property with a seriously smart piece of renewable technology.
Your installer must only install an AusNet approved inverter and connect your solar system to a permanent and reliable internet connection (ethernet is preferred). If you do not have internet available, or it’s not a stable connection, your installer will need to apply for an exemption to the solar emergency backstop and your system will be limited to no more than 1kW of export.
At the time of installation, your installer should show you how to check your inverter internet connection and monitor your solar generation, consumption and export.
Depending on the size and complexity of your installation, your installation may be completed in one day, or it could take longer.
4. Connect, commission and post-installation
Once your solar system is installed, a licenced electrical inspector must inspect your system and issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Your installer should organise this for you within eight business days of installation.
Your installer then completes a post-installation form. As part of this process they must:
- Connect your solar system to the AusNet server via the internet connection established during the installation process. This means your installer may need to be at your property to complete this connection.
- Give us the details of your solar system (your inverter model, serial number and panel details).
- Upload the certificate of electrical safety (provided by the licensed electrical inspector) and electrical works request form.
Note: Make sure your installer shows you how to monitor your energy generation and consumption.
5. Tell your retailer
You’re at the final step. Once we verify all the submitted paperwork, your solar installer will contact your electricity retailer and give them all the required paperwork to update your tariff. This includes your solar feed-in tariff (FiT) and reprogramming your smart meter so you can start to receive a credit for your solar exports.
Note: If your property has an analogue meter, we will need to upgrade your meter to a digital smart meter. This allows us to remotely measure and record the amount of solar your system generates and exports. Find out early on in your solar journey if you need to upgrade your meter, so that it doesn’t hold up your solar installation process.
Once this is complete, your solar is officially connected!
6. You’re connected
You can sit back, relax and take advantage of all the benefits of your solar system. Remember, the savvier you are about using your solar as it’s being generated, the more you can benefit from your free renewable energy.
For more information on how to maintain your solar system, where to access support or how to level-up your solar experience with additional renewable technology, see Already have solar.