SYNERGY — EMERGENCY SOLAR MANAGEMENT
1457. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I
refer to my questions without notice 1361 and 1402 on emergency solar
management and Synergy's Solar Rewards, noting that since 14 February,
Synergy has had the capability of remotely turning on and off new and upgraded
rooftop solar systems and has never once employed this capability.
(1) Why has
Synergy activated the $450 000 Solar Rewards program, duplicating the
capability that already exists in its power management regime?
(2) Who
formulated the financial incentive structure that is Solar Rewards and was the
minister or his office consulted on the financial incentive rationale of Solar
Rewards?
(3) Will the
information harvested by Synergy during the 1 October to 30 November 2024
contract period be publicly available at the conclusion of the contract period?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN
replied:
I thank the Leader of the Opposition
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me
by the Minister for Energy.
(1) Emergency
solar management is a last resort measure to maintain system security in the
south west interconnected system during
extreme low-load events. ESM can be activated only by the Australian Energy
Market Operator under emergency operating conditions. Synergy's Solar
Rewards program enables Synergy to manage
customers' rooftop solar on an opt-in basis for the value of customers
and the grid. Value is derived under the program via a non-co-optimised
essential system service contract between Synergy and AEMO intended to reduce
the risks of extreme low load to the grid and avoid emergency operating
conditions emerging. Solar Rewards is helping Synergy further build its
capacity as a virtual power plant operator, consistent with the state
government's distributed energy resources road map.
(2) Synergy identified the opportunity for the program
as part of its regular customer research and insight activities.
(3) No.
(4) Data regarding the management of rooftop solar
ultimately belongs to the customer who owns those assets.