What to do if Ausgrid rejects your solar application

First, don’t panic. An initial rejection of an Ausgrid solar application is frustrating, but it’s rarely the end of the road. It’s more of a pause, signalling that your proposed system needs adjustments to meet the technical and safety requirements of the local electricity grid.

Your very first step is to contact your solar installer. They are responsible for submitting the grid connection application on your behalf. They will have received the official notification from Ausgrid detailing the specific reasons for the rejection, and it is their job to interpret this technical feedback and explain it to you in plain English. A professional, Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer will have experience with this and should already have a plan to resolve it.

Common reasons for an Ausgrid solar application rejection in Sydney

While it can feel personal, a rejection is based on technical assessments designed to keep the grid stable for everyone. From my analysis of network requirements, here are the most common reasons an application gets flagged.

• Network Congestion: Your suburb might already have a very high concentration of rooftop solar. During sunny days, this can create an oversupply of energy, and Ausgrid may limit new connections to prevent overloading local transformers and wires.

• Voltage Rise Issues: When your system exports power, it can slightly increase the voltage on the local power lines. Ausgrid has strict limits on this to protect your appliances and your neighbours’. If your property is at the end of a long line or has older wiring, the calculated voltage rise might exceed their threshold.

• Incorrect or Incomplete Information: Simple administrative errors are a frequent cause of delays. This could be anything from a typo in your National Metering Identifier (NMI) to incorrect technical details about the inverter model being submitted.

• Non-Compliant Equipment: The application must specify equipment, particularly the inverter, that is approved for use in Australia and meets the standard AS/NZS 4777.2. Using a non-compliant model is an automatic rejection.

• Wrong Application Type: Properties in apartment blocks, embedded networks, or multi-tenanted commercial sites have more complex connection requirements. If your installer submits a standard residential application for one of these, it will be declined.

Your solar installer’s responsibility in a rejected application

This is critical: the responsibility for lodging a correct and compliant Ausgrid solar application lies almost entirely with your solar installer. It’s a core part of their service.

An SAA-accredited installer is obligated to:

• Understand Ausgrid’s specific network standards and requirements.

• Design a system that is compliant from the outset.

• Accurately complete and submit all necessary paperwork through the Ausgrid portal.

• Manage communications with Ausgrid and rectify any issues that arise during the assessment.

If your application is rejected due to an error, omission, or poor system design on their part, it is their responsibility to fix it at no extra cost to you. This is a key reason why choosing a reputable, accredited installer is so important—it protects you from these kinds of headaches.

Re-submitting a solar application to Ausgrid after rejection

Once your installer has identified the reason for rejection, they will typically propose a solution and re-submit the application. The good news is that most issues can be resolved.

Here are the common fixes:

• Adding an Export Limit: This is the most frequent solution. Your installer can add an export-limiting device or use an inverter with this feature built-in. This allows you to install a large solar system (e.g., 10kW of panels) for your own use, while capping the amount of excess energy you send to the grid, often at 5kW. This usually satisfies Ausgrid’s concerns about network congestion.

• Reducing the System Size: If export limiting isn’t an option or you don’t want it, the alternative is to reduce the size of the system (specifically, the inverter’s capacity) to a level the local network can handle.

• Correcting the Paperwork: For administrative errors, your installer simply needs to submit a new, corrected application. Be aware that Ausgrid may charge a new application fee for this.

Case Study: Getting to ‘Yes’ in Kellyville A family in a new housing estate in Kellyville, a Sydney suburb with high solar uptake, wanted to install a 10kW solar system to cover their high air conditioning usage. Their initial Ausgrid solar application was rejected due to “network capacity constraints”. Their installer explained that while the system was safe, exporting the full 10kW on a sunny day could contribute to voltage issues in the area. They amended and resubmitted the application for the same 10kW Trina panel system but with a 5kW export limit configured on the Sungrow inverter. The revised application was approved within a week. The family now saves over $2,100 a year on their power bills, putting them on track for a payback period of just under 5 years, and the grid remains stable for their neighbours.

Ausgrid’s technical requirements for solar grid connection

To avoid rejection, your installer must follow Ausgrid’s detailed technical standards. While your installer handles the specifics, it’s useful for you to know the basics. These rules are in place for safety and to ensure the quality of power for everyone.

Gigi’s Pro Tip: When your installer informs you of a rejection, ask them to forward you the official written notification from Ausgrid. This ensures you have a clear record of the specific reasons, which is helpful for your own understanding and essential if a dispute arises later.

The Ausgrid solar connection appeal process

If you believe your application has been unfairly rejected and your installer can’t resolve the issue, there is a clear escalation path.

• Step 1: Direct contact with Ausgrid. Your installer should first try to resolve the issue directly with Ausgrid’s Connection Operations team. Their contact number is 02 4399 8099 or you can email connectionapplication@ausgrid.com.au.

• Step 2: Request a formal internal review. If direct contact doesn’t work, you or your installer can request a formal internal review from Ausgrid’s Customer Relations Team by calling their general enquiries line on 13 13 65.

• Step 3: Lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON). EWON is a free, independent dispute resolution service for all NSW electricity customers. They will investigate the case on your behalf and can make a binding decision. You can contact EWON at any stage of the process for advice on 1800 246 545.

It’s worth noting that other distributors like Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy have similar application and review processes in their respective NSW network areas. The process is also separate from your dealings with your electricity retailer; an Origin solar application, for instance, refers to signing up for a solar feed-in tariff plan, which can only happen after your system has been approved by a distributor like Ausgrid and installed.

Getting grid connection approval is a mandatory first step before you can proceed with installation and apply for any solar rebates. While a rejection can be a setback, it’s usually a solvable technical challenge. With a competent installer and a clear understanding of the process, you can navigate the issue and get your system connected.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process or want to ensure your solar project gets off to the right start, I can connect you with trusted local installers who have a strong track record of getting applications approved.