Victoria Solar Power System Grid Connection Rules & Process

First, you’ll need to know who your Distribution Network Service Provider (DNSP) is, as their permission will be needed to connect a solar power system to their electricity network. The distributors in Victoria are:

• CitiPower – Melbourne’s CBD and inner suburbs
• Powercor – Melbourne’s western suburbs and all of Western Victoria
• Jemena – Melbourne’s northern and north-western suburbs
• AusNet – Melbourne’s outer northern and eastern suburbs and all of eastern Victoria
• United Energy – Melbourne’s southern suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula

Each DNSP has rules on inverter limits, indicated in the table below. Information for Victoria is current as of September 2026.

Larger Systems

The table above gives inverter capacity limits for automatic, basic, or streamlined approval. Larger systems, higher export requests, or some non-standard configurations may require a paid manual technical assessment and/or negotiated connection. Approval can take longer, and fees can range from hundreds to several thousand dollars, with additional costs possible if grid upgrades are required.  

Battery Inverter Capacity

Hybrid inverters let solar panels and a DC-coupled battery share the same inverter capacity. If a battery has its own separate AC-coupled inverter, its capacity will count towards the total inverter capacity limit.

Fixed Versus Flexible Exports

Nearly all connections in Victoria have fixed export limits. These allow a property to export power to the grid up to its fixed limit at any time. In constrained parts of some distribution networks, those who receive a low or zero export offer may instead be eligible for flexible exports. As the name suggests, these allow the distributor to vary the export limit according to local grid conditions, allowing higher exports when capacity is available. They require a reliable internet connection so your inverter can know when it needs to reduce exports.

Emergency Backstop Internet Connection Requirements

Rooftop solar installed or upgraded from 1 October 2024, with exceptions for some like-to-like warranty replacements, must comply with Victoria’s emergency backstop requirements. This means that during a grid emergency, the electricity distributor must be able to remotely reduce the system’s grid exports or temporarily shut down solar generation entirely. 

This requires a reliable internet connection. Systems without one are normally restricted to a low fixed export limit or no exports at all. As of September 2026, typical export limits for systems that aren’t emergency backstop compliant are:

• Citipower/Powercor 0 kW
• Jemena 0.5 kW
• Ausnet 1 kW
• United Energy 0 kW

Solar Grid Connection Process In Victoria

The grid connection process in Victoria is a little more complex than some states, as Victoria’s electricity distributors have varying requirements. This means that it’s important to check the requirements of your distributor before signing on the dotted line for a system. While a good solar installer should know what the requirements are, don’t leave it to chance.

1. Network Application

Connection pre-approval must be obtained before installation. Your installer should handle it for you. The approval specifies the system capacity, permitted export limit, and any technical conditions that apply.

2. System Installation

After your solar or solar and battery system is installed, your installer should demonstrate that it works and instruct you on how to turn it on and off. 

Solar and battery installations are prescribed electrical work in Victoria. The Registered Electrical Contractor responsible for the work must arrange an independent inspection by a Licensed Electrical Inspector. The inspection should be completed within 8 business days of the work being completed. After the installation is complete, the system must not be turned on until it has passed inspection. A Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is then completed.

3. More Paperwork

After inspection, paperwork must be completed, with details depending on the distributor. In some distribution networks, the distributor forwards paperwork to the retailer, while in others, the installer has to. Either way, you generally shouldn’t have to worry about it. The retailer then arranges for a meter reconfiguration if required. 

4. Meter reconfiguration

Almost every Victorian home now has a smart meter. When solar is first installed, the smart meter will need to be reconfigured to record solar exports. This is normally done remotely, but in rare cases, a meter replacement or site visit may be needed. If you don’t receive confirmation that your meter has been reconfigured, you can check with your electricity retailer.

5. Installation Complete!

Once your smart meter has been reconfigured, the first thing you should do is check if your solar system is turned on. If you’re in the Ausgrid network area, your installer should have left it switched off. If you don’t feel confident about turning it on yourself, you can contact your installer for assistance.

If you haven’t done so already, now would be an excellent time to check your electricity plan is suitable for a solar household and has a decent feed-in tariff, so you’ll receive payment for the surplus electricity you export to the grid.