Solar installers are responsible for installing rooftop solar systems in accordance with the approved Connection Contract and the Schedule of Site-Specific Conditions.
The NSW Emergency Backstop Mechanism requirements will be introduced gradually throughout the second half of 2026 in parallel with the NSW Government’s Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Installer Portal.
This incoming initiative will require installers to:
- Install equipment that is compliant with the Australian Standard ‘Common Smart Inverter Profile – Australia’ (CSIP-AUS). A list of compliant inverters and their applicable software communication client/s can be found on the Clean Energy Council website.
- Conduct a short capability test at the time of installation, confirming connectivity to Ausgrid’s utility server via the internet. The test is conducted using the NSW CER Installer Portal.
These requirements will not apply to existing rooftop solar systems. Exemptions will also apply to embedded network customers or those seeking a like-for like replacement (e.g. under a manufacturer’s warranty).
Where a premises lacks reliable internet connectivity, the new equipment must still be CSIP-AUS compliant. However, a low static export limit (to be specified within the connection agreement) must be configured by the installer at the time of installation, which will apply until connectivity is available.
To find out the latest information about these initiatives, including timing and key dates, visit the NSW Government’s Emergency Backstop Mechanism and CER Installer Portal webpages.
