Selling energy back to the grid
Can I sell power back to the grid?
Any excess power that you generate can be sold back to an electricity retailer. To do this, you will need to connect to the Northpower network.
Connection to our network will also let you use power provided by Northpower and your electricity retailer when your system is not operating or producing enough energy for your electricity needs.
Connecting to the Northpower network
There’s a detailed process for connecting any system to our network because we have to consider things like electrical safety and compliance, our network capacity to handle excess electricity coming into it, along with any adverse effects from a new connection that could interrupt the electricity supply.
Currently, there are no specific locations on the Northpower network at which we’re aware of export congestion for small-scale generation connected to the low voltage network or at which we expect export congestion for small-scale generation to occur within the next 12 months. For large-scale generation (connected to our high voltage network) the current and expected congestion can be found here.
Requirements for small-scale generation
It is highly likely that export congestion will occur as more generation is connected to the network and it is vital that people considering installing new or additional small-scale generation follow the processes in clauses 4.3 and 6 of Northpower’s Technical Requirements for Small Scale Distributed Generation before committing to the purchase of new generation.
Connection of large-scale generation (1MW or above) will always be engineered on a case-by-case basis. Charges associated with assessing the initial application of large-scale generation systems is listed below.
Northpower will invoice the applicant the appropriate fee. Applications will not be processed prior to payment of fees being received in full.
Getting started
Firstly you’ll need to develop your design outlining electricity capacity, energy production and electrical system specifications. At this point you might want to contact your energy retailer to discuss your proposal and complete any commercial arrangements they require.
If your proposed generation is 10kW or larger please complete this form, then attach it to your online application. If your proposed generation is less than 10kW please click here to complete our application form.
Connection & operation standards
Our connection requirements for distributed generation can be found below:
- Technical Requirements – Connection of Small Scale Distributed Generation
- Technical Requirements – Connection of Distributed Generation Greater than 10kW
A list of inverters approved for connection to the Northpower distribution network can be found here.
Once a small-scale distributed generation application is approved, the system owner will need to arrange installation, inspection and livening. Your installer and retailer will need a copy of our approval form. Once the system is connected, the installer/electrician will need to complete the CoC (Certificate of Certification), the inspector will need to complete the RoI (Record of Inspection) and both will need to complete the livening form. The livening form and RoI must be returned to us within 5 days of the system being connected to our network in order to comply with Part 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code.
Unless a connection contract has been entered into distributed generation is on the regulated terms in accordance with Schedule 6.2 of Part 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code.
A copy of our Congestion Management Policy can be found here. This is currently being updated to reflect the management of large-scale distributed generation on the network.
Application fees: distributed generation above 10kW
Maximum output
0 kW to 100 kW
10 kW to less than 100 kW
100 kW to less than 1 MW
1 MW or over
All fees exclude GST
Fee
$100
$500
$1,000
$5,000
Network congestion information
The maps below show congestion and potential congestion based on current applications in progress. This is subject to change as further applications are lodged.
- Current Congestion Status – PDF 0.71MB
- Expected Congestion Status (based on final applications in progress)
- Potential Congestion Status (based on initial applications in progress)
We'll take it from here
After your application has been submitted we’ll check that our network has capacity and that there will be no adverse effects for our users. We’ll advise if any changes (including additional support) are needed and once this is done we’ll approve your application.
The approval notice will include any relevant technical conditions like maximum net power and power factor. Contact us when you’re ready to begin installation, and when installation is complete and is ready to connect it needs to be inspected by a registered electrical inspector. They may need to run the generator for testing purposes.