Flexible Exports Consumer Trial FAQs

Am I eligible for the Trial?

To participate in the Flexible Exports Trial, you must:

• reside within the Endeavour Energy network area
• be 18 years or over
• have Wi-Fi internet access
• have net export metering configured to your solar inverter
• have a single phase rooftop solar system with:
  • a rated power output greater than 5kW
  • a compliant eligible solar inverter that can be connected to your home internet via Wi-Fi of an ethernet cable.

Will it cost me to participate?

No. There is no cost for you to take part in the Flexible Exports Consumer Trial.

How does the Flexible Exports Trial work?

Customers who apply for the Flexible Exports Trial can expect the following:

• after you apply, we will let you know if your application is successful
• Trial participants do not have to take any more steps
• we will set up our network to communicate with participants’ solar inverters (this may take up to 6 weeks)
• as soon as this is set up, our smart digital network starts communicating with the solar inverter attached to your solar system, immediately allowing you to export up to 10kW of excess solar energy back to the grid almost all the time (95%)
• if our network sees excess solar exports in your area are affecting the local power supply, our network will automatically send a signal to your inverter, adjusting your solar exports down to help stabilise the local grid at that time
• in the event we do have to adjust solar exports down to ensure local supply, we will never lower any participant’s solar exports below the current fixed limit of 5kW
• participating in our Flexible Exports Trial does not affect how, when, or how much of your own solar energy you choose to consume to support your home’s energy needs. It only allows Endeavour Energy to remotely limit solar exports to the grid at your connection point if needed to support local conditions
• every six months we will provide participants with a summary of their solar system’s performance using Flexible Exports, including data about your increased solar exports.

Interested? How do I register to join the Flexible Exports Trial?

To successfully register, you will need to provide us your National Metering Identifier (NMI)  and details about your solar inverter. We need this information to confirm your solar inverter is compatible for our Trial.

Before you start registering, you will need to:

• write down the manufacturer, model and serial number of your inverter
• take a photo of your inverter to upload with your registration form
• have a recent electricity bill handy to reference your NMI.

You can register online by reviewing the Trial terms and conditions then submitting your registration of interest here .

How much can I save on energy costs?

The exact amount you can save by exporting more excess solar energy to the grid will depend on a variety of factors, including:

• the size of your solar system
• the rated power output of your inverter
• your energy usage patterns
• the time of year (electricity use and solar generation varies across seasons) and
• the feed-in tariff you receive from your electricity retailer.

Endeavour Energy estimates that if you have an eligible inverter with a rated power output of 8kW, you could save between $40 - $60 per year, and customers with a 10kW inverter could save between $100 - $200 per year.

We have analysed potential savings for participating solar customers with compatible inverters who choose Flexible Exports. The table below considers annual sunlight data, system size and retailers feed in tariffs.

What about two-way pricing?

In NSW, electricity retailers can charge customers a two-way tariff from 1 July 2024. Your electricity retailer may or may not include a two-way tariff in your plan.

Participating in Flexible Exports delivers solar customers savings compared to our fixed limit on exports, even if your retailer applies a two-way tariff.

Two-way pricing creates an incentive for customers with large solar systems (10kW) to consume their own solar energy in the middle of the day (using major appliances when at home, using timers to run these appliances when not at home, or storing excess energy to a battery), rather than exporting to the grid.

For many customers, consuming their own solar energy delivers better savings than exporting to the grid, and under two-way pricing, the reward rate for evening-time solar exports is much higher than the charge for excess exports in the middle of the day.

Solar customers who consume some or all their solar energy can avoid two-way charges altogether. We expect 90% of our solar customers (with systems smaller than 8kW) would be unimpacted or rewarded if two-way pricing is included in their retail plan.

Customers with two-way pricing in their retail plans will:

• receive a slightly lower feed-in tariff for solar exports in excess of the 8kWh/day between 10am – 2pm,
• receive a much higher feed in tariff for solar exports in the late afternoon / evening peak demand period (between 4pm – 8pm)
• receive their usual feed in tariffs for solar exports at any other time.

If your retail pricing plan includes a two-way tariff, we expect the average solar customer exporting to the grid may benefit by $5 per annum. We expect the average exporting customer with a large solar system (10kW or larger) may be charged $6 per annum.

What are the other benefits?

Taking part in our Flexible Exports Trial will allow you to:

• access a flexible export limit of up to 10kW of excess solar energy 95% of the time (double the current standard fixed exports limit)
• save on your household energy costs
• make the most of your investment in rooftop solar
• reduce your household carbon footprint
• contribute to a renewable, clean energy future by sharing more of the solar energy you don’t already consume
• help us deliver an affordable, sustainable, and reliable power supply for all customers, by working with us to safely host much more solar energy without destabilising the grid.

How long will the Trial run?

Once the Trial commences, you will continue to export solar to the grid under the ‘Flexible Exports’ approach unless you advise us that you want to return to a fixed export limit.

Our Trial starts in August 2024, and we have welcomed customers who have Sungrow smart solar inverter to joins. We will expand the trial over time, including more solar inverter manufacturers.

We plan to make Flexible Exports available to all eligible solar customers from 2026 onwards.

Will I be notified if my solar exports are reduced?

Trial participants will not receive a notification if we remotely reduce their exports below 10kW limit to help manage local grid conditions.

However, every six months we will provide participants with a summary of their solar system’s performance using Flexible Exports, including data about their increased solar exports.

Does participating in the Trial affect my choice to consume my own solar energy?

Choosing Flexible Exports does not affect how, when, or how much of your own solar energy you can consume to power your home or business.

It only allows Endeavour Energy to remotely limit exports of the excess solar energy customers don’t consume back to the grid when needed to maintain reliability in their local area.

If consuming all your generated solar energy delivers you the best savings, keep doing it!

But, if you have excess solar energy that you cannot consume and want to export back to the grid, Flexible Exports will deliver you savings by doubling the amount of solar energy you can export, from 5kW to 10kW per phase.

Do I need to notify my energy retail provider that I am joining the Flexible Exports Trial?

No, there is no need to notify your electricity retailer. Your retail arrangements will remain unchanged.

Can I withdraw from the Trial if I want?

Yes, you can leave the Trial at any time. As there are no costs associated with your joining the Trial, there are no fees or penalties for withdrawing either.

If you wish to exit the Trial, contact us via email on flexible.exports@endeavourenergy.com.au advising us of your decision to withdraw, and your solar inverter settings will revert back to the previous fixed 5kW export limit.

What if I am not eligible now but want to participate in the Trial?

If you have read through our criteria and it appears you are not currently eligible for this Trial, we encourage you to still complete the registration form.

We will be expanding the Trial to include more inverter makes and models, and the answers you provide in this form will help guide our next steps as we look to expand the Trial.

We will keep your application secure, and let you know if you become eligible in the future.

How do I know if I have net export metering configured to my solar inverter?

You may find a net export meter fitted to the switchboard inside your meter box.

Our Flexible Exports Trial initially includes only Sungrow solar inverters. Please see below examples of what the net export meter looks like on your switchboard for a Sungrow inverter. (If you are unsure whether you have net export metering configured with your Sungrow inverter, please contact your solar installer.)

How do I know if I have an eligible solar inverter?

Inverters that have a communication channel that is compliant to IEEE 2030.5 CSIP-AUS, (either hosted locally on the inverter or a gateway device, or via a certified cloud connection to Endeavour Energy’s utility server) are eligible for the Trial.

Currently only the below Sungrow inverters meet these criteria and are considered eligible for this Trial. However, additional manufacturers and models will be included as the Trial progresses and as this happens, the below list will be updated.

If you believe the model of your inverter is eligible but it is not listed in the table, please contact us at flexible.exports@endeavourenergy.com.au.

How do I find the model and serial number of my solar inverter?

Your solar inverter is usually located outside, next to your meter box. The label containing the model and serial number of your solar inverter should be located under the inverter or on the side of the inverter (usually the right side).

For Sungrow inverters, the model and serial number should be located at the top left of the label (an example label is shown below):

• the model number is referenced as “Type” and starts with an S (e.g., SG10RS)
• the serial number is referenced as “S/N” and starts with A, followed by 10 numbers (e.g., A2170302931).

How do I find my NMI (National Metering Identifier)?

You will find your National Metering Identifier (NMI) on your electricity bill. Every electricity bill includes the NMI, though different retailers display it in different locations on the bill, either on the first or the second page.

It should be a 10-character or 11-character identifier beginning with 431 or NEEE if you reside in the Endeavour Energy network area.

What if I have any other questions?

Simply email your enquiry to flexible.exports@endeavourenergy.com.au or phone Endeavour Energy on 133 718.