What you need to do
Regular maintenance of your system is important to ensure that it is:
- operating correctly and efficiently; and
- safe for your home or business and won’t endanger anyone working on the power lines e.g. our crews and emergency services.
Maintenance should be undertaken by a licensed electrician or accredited solar panel system installer. Keep a record of this work, including the date and person completing it for future reference.
Under Victoria’s Electricity Distribution Code, the following obligations apply to you as the owner of the system:
- Ensure that your system complies with Victoria’s Electricity Distribution Code, the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and all relevant Australian Standards. Further information on these obligations can be found at the Essential Services Commission’s Website.
- Ensure that your system is regularly maintained in a safe condition. Further information relating to maintenance can be found at the Clean Energy Regulators Website.
Anti-islanding testing
This is an important safety test outlined in the Australian Standards (AS 4777). If network power is lost, your inverter should shut off in order to stop the flow of electricity to the grid so crews can safely repair the fault.
The ‘anti-islanding’ test should be performed annually to ensure your inverter operates correctly in the event of a network power outage. The test can be conducted by a licenced electrician or Clean Energy Council-accredited solar panel system installer, unless you have been trained by a professional such as your solar installer, and are confident to undertake the test yourself.
Avoid being disconnected
If your system no longer complies with the Electricity Distribution Code, Australian Standards, or is in breach of the Electricity Safety Act or other safety regulations, then it will need to be taken off the network. Once the issue has been rectified, we will approve you to reconnect your system safely.
You can read more about your obligations under Victoria’s Electricity Distribution Code (section 7) at the Essential Services Commission’s
website.