About the Distributed Energy Resources Register

No. This is a National Electricity Rules requirement, actioned by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs), to provide DER information in a specific format. It has been mandated that embedded generators and DNSPs provide more data sets than has previously been required for every small generating or battery system. The data is to be uploaded to a national database, administered by AEMO, within 20 business days of the system commissioning or activation.

Ausgrid and AEMO had previously communicated a 1 December 2019 effective date with Installers and Customers. The Register was established and populated with historic data from DNSPs on or close to 1 December and DNSPs and the AEMO have been working together to populate the Register with information from this date. The functionality for creating and updating records by API’s, mobile apps and the AEMO portal has been delayed due to technical issues and the need to complete testing before roll-out. Ausgrid plans to go-live with new business processes as soon as practical and will provide further information to the industry closer to the Ausgrid go-live date.

AEMO provided an update to the information on 25.11.2019 as set out below:

“AEMO would like to provide you with an update on the DER Register. Technical issues are delaying the commencement of the vital industry testing by Network Service Providers (NSPs) of the DER Register. Therefore, AEMO wishes to advise that installer access to the DER Register will be delayed until further notice.
AEMO apologises for any inconvenience caused. AEMO recommends that installers consult with their local NSP on when they can provide information to the DER Register.
Further updates will be provided also on AEMO’s dedicated DER Register webpage."

No. The Ausgrid go-live date for new business processes has been further delayed to allow for additional time to:
• Test new systems and processes to increase confidence in its operation
• Allow for the DER industry to have additional time to understand the new requirement and become familiar with the new systems and processes
• Allow for additional time for smart device application providers to develop and test their products and services for customers to be ready for the implementation date.

Given the current and developing situation with COVID-19, Ausgrid has made the decision to not implement new industry processes for registering the installed DER equipment by installers at this point in time. Ausgrid will continue to provide information about DER in its network to AEMO using the information submitted in the application forms and provided by meter providers when generation systems are installed.

Please continue to follow current processes until further notice.

The AEMO DER Register has already come into effect in other states and territories where network operators are collecting installed equipment information direct from customers and installers. In NSW, we are using the collaborative approach with the DER industry where the final installed equipment details are submitted directly to AEMO via the portal or smart device applications. Given the readiness of full end to end processes and systems, we have decided to delay implementation for a bit longer to adapt to the changing circumstances and allow the DER Industry some further time to prepare for the new processes.

Ausgrid is currently working with the AEMO and application providers with a view to have a functional process and system using the collaborative approach available to installers as soon as practical. Ausgrid will provide updates on our website when new information becomes available.

Ausgrid will email our industry stakeholders with a notification when the DER Register comes into effect for Ausgrid customers. When the new process goes live, connection applicants who submit an application to connect a new embedded generation system or alter an existing embedded generation system will receive instructions in an email on what they need to do. The email will contain the National Metering Identifier (NMI) for the premise and a unique Ausgrid DER Register Job Number. This information will be needed to update the DER Record in the AEMO Register with the installed equipment details by an AEMO DER Register account holder.
If the connection applicant has not received an email with instructions on how to update the AEMO DER Register, then please continue to follow current processes.

The AEMO DER Register is owned and operated by the AEMO, for enquires relating to account creation or accessing the register visit the AEMO website.  Account creation requires a unique NMI and DER Register Job Number combination created by the DNSP, which will be emailed to new connection applicants after approval of their application, once the Ausgrid DER Register process goes live.

Further information can be found on the AEMOs website page; AEMO Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Register

If you have read through the available information on the Ausgrid and AEMO DER Register webpages and have further questions, please email datanorth@ausgrid.com.au, or call our connection operations team on (02) 4399 8099