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From 1 October 2024, new, upgrading or replacement solar systems must be installed compliantly with backstop requirements.
The solar emergency backstop is a system that enables electricity distribution companies, such as AusNet, United Energy, Powercor, Jemena to remotely reduce or disconnect rooftop solar systems during an energy supply emergency. This measure is implemented only as a last resort to prevent widespread power outages. The Victorian government has mandated this change.
On certain mild, sunny days, Victorian households generate and export more energy than the grid can handle. This can occasionally result in an unstable electricity supply, which, in extreme cases, may lead to outages.The solar emergency backstop device helps regulate the amount of solar energy being exported to the grid during critical situations. This ensures that more customers can connect their solar systems, more households can install solar, and it also contributes to a sustainable renewable energy future.
More detailed information can be found here Victoria's Emergency Backstop Mechanism
Currently, there are four DNSPs in Victoria, and each has its own set of requirements for passing the "Emergency Backstop Mechanism Test."
- Install CSIP-AUS Approved inverter
- Set Inverter with Australia A setting
- Set Export limit (Different for all DNSP)
- Inverter Firmware must be up to date
- Generate LFDI through inverter manufacturer's portal
- While running the test maintain generation at minimum 1000W
- Inverter must be connected with reliable internet connection with strong reception
After meeting all the necessary minimum requirements, the installer must complete the alteration form on the DNSP portal and run the backstop mechanism test.
In some cases, this test can take up to seven days, with no guarantee of success. Even if all steps for the backstop test have been completed, installers cannot confidently leave the site due to slow and unreliable DNSP portals. Reaching a DNSP is no longer as simple as making a phone call—some operators will keep you waiting for hours, only to take down your details and promise a resolution that can take months, often with no resolution at all.
On a regular basis, installers face common issues such as:
- NMI does not connect
- Insufficient telemetry received
- Export execution error
- Unexpected error occurred
- No telemetry received
- List goes on.....
These problems continue to persist, and when asked to contact the inverter manufacturer, we do so. The inverter manufacturer checks all requirements and confirms that the settings are correct, but the issue remains unresolved. Until test has not passed solar system will remain on Zero export.
We have list of customers where even after checking all the requirements issue still remains unresolved after months of efforts where we have called DNSP multiple times, contacted manufacturer countless times, installer has visited site multiple times and can not figure out the issue.
Now, Let's Say we have been lucky and backstop test has been successfully passed :
We have been monitoring many of our installed solar system which has passed backstop mechanism test where we have noticed that generation does not cross above certain limit, when queried to inverter manufacturer we have been advised that DNSP is controlling the system only they can resolve the issue.
To Help our customer, if you are encountering such issues after your meter re-configuration is completed we would request you to contact your DNSP. (DNSP can be found on your electricity bill)
Ausnet - 1300 360 795
United Energy - 1800 772 940
Powercor - 1800 772 940
Jemena - 1300 137 078
We would like to promise that Solar Masters will do everything within our power to resolve any backstop issues.
An ethernet connection (LAN cable) is always better than Wi-Fi. If the Wi-Fi router is located far from the inverter and you don’t have a reliable signal, you may need a Wi-Fi range extender or consider ethernet connection if supported by your inverter.
The Australian Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) tell us when to activate the emergency backstop, and for how long. They decide this based on when there is too much energy predicted on the grid.
If the emergency backstop is activated, your solar system won’t be feeding excess energy into the grid. This means you won’t receive income from your solar exports while the backstop is activated.
The Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) expects this will only cost householders between $4 and $7 in lost feed-in tariffs per year. You can minimise this loss by consuming as much of your own solar power as possible.
Export limits depend on network capacity. Currently, rooftop solar customers have static export limits which may restrict exports back to the grid. All CSIP-Aus devices will support flexible exports in the future which will unlock more exports to the grid.
Typically in an emergency backstop event your solar exports will stop. The inverter should return to normal when the emergency backstop is finished.
If a modem or password is changed, the inverter will need to be reconnected to the device to enable it to connect to the internet. As per the CSIP-AUS protocol, until this is done, the inverter will be limited to 0kW of export.
Yes. Customers can install solar, but they will be subject to a 0kW export limit if they do not provide an internet connection to allow exports to be reduced or stopped during emergency events.
If a modem or password is changed, the inverter will need to be reconnected to the device to enable it to connect to the internet. As per the CSIP-AUS protocol, until this is done, the inverter will be limited to 0kW of export.
To Help our customer, if you are encountering such issues after your meter re-configuration is completed we would request you to contact your DNSP. (DNSP can be found on your electricity bill)
Ausnet - 1300 360 795
United Energy - 1800 772 940
Powercor - 1800 772 940
Jemena - 1300 137 078
CSIP-AUS refers to the Common Smart Inverter Profile for Australia protocol. These devices have inbuilt communication capabilities so they can receive signals from network operators. This allows these solar installations to comply with the emergency backstop mechanism.
