After your solar system is installed, TCK Solar will guide you through the process of connecting to the electricity grid. This involves working with both your Electricity Distributor (who owns the local network) and your Electricity Retailer (who sends your bill).
Key Steps for Grid Connection
- Grid pre-approval (managed by TCK Solar): Before installation, TCK Solar submits a technical application to your distributor (e.g. Jemena, Citypower / Powercor, AusNet) detailing the system size and technology. This ensures the planned system complies with local electricity grid regulations and requirements, and secures an export limit (the maximum instantaneous power you can send back to the electricity grid)
- Installation & compliance: Once pre-approval is granted, TCK Solar installs and commissions your system, followed by an electrical safety inspection conducted by a third-party electrical inspector who issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES)
- Final electricity grid connection request: TCK Solar submits the final paperwork (your installed system details together with the CES) to your electricity distributor, which triggers a request to your retailer (e.g. AGL, Origin) to reconfigure your meter for bi-directional import and export
- Meter upgrade / reprogramming: Your retailer may arrange for a smart meter technician to visit your home to replace, but more likely will remotely reprogram your existing meter to accurately measure both the electricity you import (use) and export (feed into the electricity grid).
Expected Delays & Limits
- Metering upgrade: After installation, it typically takes around 10 to 28 business days for the final approval and meter upgrade to occur. During this period, your solar system is producing energy, however any excess energy exported to the grid may not be accurately credited until your smart meter is installed and / or fully reprogrammed
- Export Limits: It’s important to understand that most homes in Melbourne, and Victoria, have an export limit (e.g. 5kW or 10kW) set by the electricity distributor to prevent grid instability and help manage the network. This limit determines how much excess electricity your system is permitted to send back to the grid at any one time
At TCK Solar, we manage all aspects of the electricity grid approval applications to make your connection process as seamless as possible.
