The introduction of the Victoria emergency backstop mechanism (VEBM) for solar power systems was anything but smooth, and four and a half months later there are still considerable problems.
In October last year, the VEBM request for new solar solar for new/improved/replacement residential buildings came into force. With the backstop mechanism, the distributed network service providers (DNSPS) with high solar energy exports (DNSPS) with high solar energy exports can summarize the minimum request mechanism with high solar energy exports in order to temporarily contain or switch off the mechanism of the state state by sending the Solar Panel systems remote to signals to CSIP from compliant sun inheriters. You can read more about the VEBM here.
However, the implementation was a nightmare after some of the state’s solar installers, which makes it difficult for them to include backstop requirements in their quotes and invoices.
It’s not just installers who suffer. One example is a system owner who said that his installation was taking place at the end of September 2024, and at the beginning of January of this year his connection was still in the queue until his DNSP approved the inverter’s emergency protocol. Last week we saw another report from a solar owner who had installed his system in early December and the installer still has difficulty having the system registered – at least in this case the system is in operation.
It didn’t have to be that way. The forces only had to look across the border to South Australia to see how it is done. Although there is only one DNSP in SA and five in Victoria.
But there were some movements on the ward to tackle the problems in Victoria. First, there is recognition. Solar Victoria said last week:
“We understand the concern of the solar industry in the implementation of new emergency bakers and appreciate the continued input of representatives of the industry in relation to their experiences with the mechanism.”
The agency and members of your industry and consumer reference group (ICRG) as well as the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Deeca) work to reduce things “as soon as possible”.
A bag of backstop problems
The topics identified so far include:
- Approach to Legacy Solar Power Systems.
- VOR-OFFOM-compatibility failure that create repetition site visits to installers.
- DNSP servers are offline.
- Safe sequencing for licensed electrical inspectors and costs for returning to the location for solar installers.
- Onboarding of solar change judges and other related manufacturers.
- Inconsistent export limits.
- Solar installations with false settings – including false export limits – are inappropriately looking for internet exemption (which leads to a lower fixed export limit that is probably not more than 1.5 kW); Or export systems to zero without knowledge of the customer.
… if more are added to the list of how they are identified.
What is done?
The ICRG focuses on the problems and the Deeca has set up a dedicated emergency backstop reference group to examine solutions.
The group’s most recent meeting last Wednesday carried out priority problems. This included the application of the VEBM for legacy systems and problems with compatibility tests on site.
“The reference group has identified measures to solve these problems that are now being implemented,” says Solar Victoria.
Let’s hope that this will be done soon.
The rubbing of salt into the wound is minimal feed -in tariffs in Victoria can be very close to 0 ° C per kilowatt hour in 2025/26.
So, all of these mourning and Victorian solar owners who are negatively affected by the bumpy start of the VEBM Rollout could not get any closer to their exports from July (just like everyone else). But even if owners of new and improved systems * restrict their solar systems to zero export, VEBM HOOPS still have to be jumped through.
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