Going solar - The process of installing a photovoltaic (PV) system in your home

Installing a PV system is a method of generating your own electricity by harnessing solar energy via panels placed on the roof of your house.

You can offset the cost by selling your Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to Power and Water. One REC is obtained for every 1 megawatt-hour (1000 kilowatt-hours) of electricity produced by an approved renewable generator.

Power and Water can buy all the electricity that your PV system generates if you are connected to our grid. This means your power bills will simply be the difference between the electricity you have used and the electricity your PV system has generated and fed back into the grid. If you use less electricity than your PV system generates, you will receive money instead of a bill.

Currently Power and Water is offering 18.31 cents per kWh for residential customers. A customised rate will be negotiated for PV solar systems greater than 10 kVA.

Installing a PV system is a big investment, but it has a number of benefits. You will:

• Be producing clean, renewable energy
• Reduce your power bills
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

First steps

Choose an accredited installer who can help you design a solar power system that suits your household needs. A list of installers can be found at yellowpages.com.au.

The installer will help you to lodge the two Power and Water agreements that need to be in place:

• Network Connection Agreement (Power Networks - Photovoltaic Inverter Network Connection Agreement)
• Power Purchase Agreement

Please submit your Network Connection Agreement at the beginning of the process. The equipment, including the inverter, must comply with current Power and Water Requirements for Grid Connection of Photovoltaic Systems via Inverters and ESAA Australian Guidelines for Grid Connection of Energy Systems via Inverters. The system must be approved by a certified electrician.

You will need to negotiate the cost of the system directly with the installer and pay an application and metering fee of $112.20* to Power and Water. Additional charges may apply.

Frequently asked questions

• How long does it take?
  After you receive your certificate of compliance, it should take about four weeks. This depends on the installation being completed and the metering and connection point inspected by a Power and Water technician.
• What is a Network Connection Agreement?
  The Network Connection Agreement highlights the terms and conditions for the safe connection of your system to the local electricity network. An agreement must be in place for your solar power system to be connected to the network and feed power back into the electricity grid.
• What is a Power Purchase Agreement?
  The Power Purchase Agreement is an agreement between yourself and Power and Water to enable correct metering and billing standards to apply.
• How long is the agreement for?
  The agreement will remain in force while you continue to live at the premises. Power and Water can terminate the agreement for safety reasons or you can terminate it when you leave the premises.
• Will the solar system always be connected to the network grid?
  The system may be disconnected at any time due to safety reasons. Details are in the Requirements for Grid Connection of Photovoltaic Systems via Inverters. Standards and rates may vary. Additional conditions and restrictions may apply. This information should only be used as a guide.
• Do new property owners need to negotiate new agreements for an existing system?
  Yes. If a property is sold the existing agreements will become null and void. It is the responsibility of the new owners to contact Power and Water and set up a Network Connection Agreement and Power Purchase Agreement.
• Do property owners who have installed a new PV system and are not connected to the grid need to contact Power and Water?
  No. If you don't intend connecting to the grid then you are not required to contact Power and Water, however you may still be able to sell your RECs to Power and Water. Please contact customer services for further information on Power and Water’s current price for RECs.

PV application checklist

If applying to have your PV system connected to the Power and Water network, the following documentation must be included in your application:

• Completed and signed copy of the PV Invertor Network Connection Agreement (Power Networks – Photovoltaic Inverter Network Connection Agreement).
• Completed and signed copy of the Power Purchase Agreement for PV Inverter System.
• Completed and signed Application Form to Grid Connect a PV Inverter System (pages 15 and 16 of the Requirements for Grid Connection of Photovoltaic Systems via Inverters)
• Full payment of $112.20 per application for meter installation.
• A high quality combined power, protection and control schematic for the proposed electrical system. These diagrams may include connection arrangements and ratings for the following (to see an example of the schematics view pages 8 and 9 of the Requirements for Grid Connection of Photovoltaic Systems via Inverters):
  • switches
  • inverter
  • PV-array
  • metering
  • earthing equipment
  • distribution circuits
  • protection, synchronisation and tripping equipment interlocks.

If the above required documentation is not submitted in full, the application will not be accepted.

More information

Please note that standards and rates may vary. Additional conditions and restrictions may apply. This information should only be used as a guide.

For your convenience, a print friendly version of the information on this page is available for download.

Contact us for more information.

* Additional fees and conditions may apply. Rate correct as at 1 July 2009.