Blunt, rushed and potentially costly regulation: we need to do much better for consumer-owned assets

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Everyone agrees we want to avoid another ‘system black’ in South Australia. What’s contested is whether household solar exports should be allowed to be cut off by the system operator, under what circumstances, and who gets to decide?

New measures giving energy authorities powers to remotely switch off solar panels without householders’ knowledge has set a worrying precedent.

Now state energy ministers are considering adopting a similar rule that would allow behind-the-meter appliances such as hot water systems, air conditioners, electric vehicle chargers and pool pumps to also be switched off.

South Australia’s rooftop solar cut-off measure was used for the first time on 14 March 2021 affecting around 12,500 households in Adelaide.

When this cut-off occurred, solar households were not compensated, and everyone affected had to purchase electricity from the grid.