Information for technology providers
What’s changing from mid‑2026
From mid‑2026, new and upgraded solar inverters connected in NSW will need to support requirements introduced under the NSW Government’s Emergency Backstop Mechanism.
These changes are designed to:
- Support safe operation of the electricity network
- Enable secure, standardised communications with distribution networks
Certification and listing requirements
From mid‑2026:
- Solar inverters must include a software communication client that complies with
Common Smart Inverter Profile – Australia (CSIP‑AUS) - The applicable version will be SA TS 5573:2025
A list of compliant inverters and software communication clients is published by the Clean Energy Council.
Ausgrid does not require OEMs or aggregators to separately test or certify products against our utility server.
Onboarding with Ausgrid and other networks
Before a CSIP‑AUS compliant inverter can be installed and commissioned, OEMs and aggregators must onboard with each distribution network they intend to operate in.
The onboarding process:
- Is common across all NSW and ACT distribution networks
- Enables access to digital certificates required for secure communications
What the onboarding process involves
At a high level, onboarding includes:
- Application – complete the onboarding form
- Initial review – preliminary approval by networks
- Basic communication testing
- Full application – confirmation of compliance with common requirements
- Approval and onboarding
Detailed steps and templates are provided in the NSW/ACT Utility Interconnection Handbook
As part of onboarding, applicants declare they:
- Meet common cyber security requirements
- Will comply with agreed network conditions