{"id":33695,"date":"2019-09-27T15:26:51","date_gmt":"2019-09-27T04:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=33695"},"modified":"2020-10-20T09:04:31","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T22:34:31","slug":"ausnet-forces-time-use-tariff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/ausnet-forces-time-use-tariff\/","title":{"rendered":"Victoria’s AusNet Forces New Solar Homes On Time-Of-Use Tariff For 12 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"AusNet

Power Of No Choice. AusNet are making the most of their monopoly.<\/p><\/div>\n

Update 16th January 2020: <\/strong>Yesterday we were sent a screenshot of what a home owner in the Ausnet area were told by Ausnet customer support.\u00a0 It states that Ausnet never allows<\/em> solar homes to have a standard tariff in their area.\u00a0 This is different from what they told me on the phone.\u00a0 Here is the letter they sent:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The letter says the default tariff for solar households is NEE26 but they can change to another time-of-use tariff and mentions two specifically, NASN11S and NSP23.\u00a0 I’ve put these three tariffs below exactly as they appear in Ausnet’s “Schedule of Network Use of System Tariffs” effective 1st January 2020: <\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Because that’s difficult to read, here’s a version I’ve shortened:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Looking at the NEE26 tariff it appears Ausnet is fine with a two rate tariff that that charges the same amount for peak and shoulder periods with a lower rate for off-peak periods.\u00a0 This is likely to be the best tariff for solar households in the Ausnet area, but this is likely to change if a home battery is installed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note what you will actually have to pay depends on what plans retailers offer.\u00a0 The Ausnet restrictions just limit the plans you can choose from to time-of-use tariff plans.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AusNet Services — formally known as SP AusNet — is a Victorian Electricity distributor1<\/a><\/sup> that covers most of Victoria east of Melbourne, along with some of Melbourne’s outer suburbs.<\/p>\n

If you get rooftop solar panels installed, AusNet will force you to change to a time-of-use tariff regardless of your personal preference.\u00a0 So I guess your freedom to choose<\/a> means nothing to them.<\/p>\n

You won’t just be stuck with this for a single, one month, billing cycle because AusNet will only let you change your tariff type once every 12 months.\u00a0 While you can change your retailer or retailer electricity plan every month, you will be locked into a tariff type that may not suit you for one full year.<\/p>\n

While Victorian time-of-use tariffs generally aren’t as bad for solar households as in other states, Victorian households are still being discriminated against for installing solar power. Solar is something that can reduce demand on the grid and lower grid costs for everyone, while people who buy electrical devices that normally only increase demand and grid costs, such as air conditioners and electric stoves, aren’t affected at all.\u00a0 This is blatantly unfair.<\/p>\n

What Is AusNet?<\/h2>\n

AusNet is a Distributed Network Service Provider<\/a> (DNSP).\u00a0 They take electricity from high voltage electricity lines and distribute it locally, as this graphic of theirs shows:<\/p>\n

\"AusNet<\/p>\n

In some states distributors only manage the local power lines and substations, but AusNet owns the actual poles and wires.\u00a0 AusNet itself is owned 31.1% by SP Group<\/a> (formally Singapore Power), 19.9% by the State Grid of China<\/a>, and 49% by private investors, a number of whom may even be Australian.\u00a0 You can buy shares and directly participate in this glorious capitalist enterprise yourself if you wish.\u00a0 When the Chinese Communist Party controlled State Grid of China owns nearly 20% you can be certain they’re capitalicious!2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

The AusNet Area<\/h2>\n

The AusNet Service area is shown here:<\/p>\n

\"AusNet<\/p>\n

AusNet says they serve over 713,000 consumers.\u00a0 After looking at the map, I think they mean they supply electricity to over 713,000 different addresses — otherwise there would be a lot of people sitting in the dark in Eastern Victoria on account of their being a lot more electricity consumers than addresses.<\/p>\n

AusNet And Solar Power<\/h2>\n

If you are on the main grid, AusNet will normally allow 10 kilowatts of inverter capacity per phase3<\/a><\/sup>, but will only allow you to export a maximum of 5 kilowatts of power per phase.\u00a0\u00a0 You can apply for permission to install or export more than this, but it may not be given.\u00a0 There is an application fee of $171 for this and it can take up to 3 months to be approved or denied.<\/p>\n

In rural areas electricity is often provided by Single Wire Earth Return<\/a> (SWER) transmission and in these areas AusNet will generally limit solar electricity export to 3.5 kilowatts.<\/p>\n

Solar Homes Are Often Better Off With A Standard Tariff<\/h2>\n

Most solar homes in Australia are better off on a standard tariff where they pay a flat rate for each kilowatt-hour of grid electricity used, rather than a time-of-use tariff where the cost of electricity varies according to the time of day.\u00a0 I explain why in this badly written article<\/a>.\u00a0 But Victorian time-of-use tariffs can be an exception, because:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The peak period can include most of the time the sun is up, which is when solar households use little grid electricity.<\/li>\n
  • The difference between peak and off-peak rates may only be 5.5 cents, although it can be up to 20 cents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Because of these differences it is possible for a solar household to come out ahead with a time-of-use tariff but it will depend on individual circumstances.\u00a0 If you are better off on a standard tariff, as many will be<\/a>, you’re out of luck as you will have to wait 12 months for AusNet to no longer have tariff power over you.<\/p>\n