ACT Solar Power System Grid Connection Rules & Process

Something you’ll need to know you may not already – the main electricity distributor (an entity that owns and maintains an electricity network you’ll be connecting a system to) in the ACT is Evoenergy, with Essential Energy providing services to a very limited number of customers.

The following table shows the inverter limits for both DNSPs and whether battery inverters count towards the limits. Information for the ACT is current as at August 31, 2021.

Distributor	Inverter Capacity Limit For Expedited Connection Request	Exports
Evoenergy	Single phase: 10 kW solar only inverter capacity limit. 20 kW solar inverter + battery inverter capacity limit. Three phase: 30 kW solar only inverter capacity limit, with up to 10 kW per phase. 60 kW solar inverter + battery inverter capacity limit, with up to 20 kW per phase.	Single phase: 5 kW export limit. Three phase: 5 kW per phase.
Essential Energy	Essential connections in the ACT are rural, so up to 3 kW of inverter capacity can qualify for automatic approval.	Essential connections in the ACT are rural, with a 3 kW export limit.

Distributor

Inverter Capacity Limit For Expedited Connection Request

Exports

Evoenergy

Single phase: 10 kW solar only inverter capacity limit. 20 kW solar inverter + battery inverter capacity limit.

Three phase: 30 kW solar only inverter capacity limit, with up to 10 kW per phase. 60 kW solar inverter + battery inverter capacity limit, with up to 20 kW per phase.

Single phase: 5 kW export limit.

Three phase: 5 kW per phase.

Essential Energy

Essential connections in the ACT are rural, so up to 3 kW of inverter capacity can qualify for automatic approval.

Essential connections in the ACT are rural, with a 3 kW export limit.

ACT Solar Grid Connection Process

The following focuses on EvoEnergy, detailing the steps required for installing a solar power system in Canberra and throughout the ACT. The grid connection process can look a little daunting, but don’t be put off by all this as your solar installation company should handle most of it.

1. Building Development Approval Needed?

Most ordinary rooftop solar installations don’t require development approval, so long as they satisfy the ACT’s exempt development requirements. Additional restrictions can apply to unsual installation, heritage properties, and systems that significantly protrude above the roof or affect neighbouring solar access.

2. Evoenergy Connection Approval

Before installation, your solar installer must submit a Special Connection Request (SCR) through Evoenergy’s DER Portal. Evoenergy assesses the proposed solar and/or battery system and issues an approval. You should receive a copy before installation begines, but if you don’t, requrest it from your installer.

3. Arrange Electricity Meter Change

Most ACT homes now have a smart meter. If you have an analog “spinning dial” meter or an older digital meter, it will need to be replaced and your electricity retailer will arrange for it to be upgraded to a smart meter. If you already have a smart meter and the property doesn’t have existing solar, your electricity retailer will have it remotely reconfigured to record electricity exports.

4. Solar Power System Installation

Once Evoenergy has approved the connection, your installer can proceed in accordance with the approval. The system should not be switched on until either a new meter has been installed or an existing smart meter has been reconfigured.

5. Installation Of Meter

Once the meter is installed, your electricity retailer will make changes to your electricity plan so you can receive the solar feed in tariff. That’s the amount you’ll receive for the surplus energy generated by your system that will be exported to the mains grid.

6. System Commissioning

The system can now be handed over to you, and you can start reaping the rewards of your wise investment.

7. Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) form

While the electrician can now leave the installation, he/she must submit a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) form within 14 days of the work to Access Canberra. The installation will then be inspected by the Access Canberra Electrical Inspections. The electrician doesn’t need to be present for this, but if you would like be around for the inspection, you should contact Access Canberra to arrange an appointment.

Five-Year Inverter Testing

Evoenergy requires grid-connect inverters to be tested by an electrician at least once every five years to confirm they remain safely connected to the network.