Media release: Major upgrade supports more rooftop solar for Melbourne’s inner suburbs

Tuesday, 23 November, 2021

Solar customers in Melbourne’s inner suburbs can now share more of their power after a major works program by electricity distributor CitiPower.

Over the past six months, crews have conducted over 200 jobs across Melbourne’s CBD and inner suburbs to better support the rise in rooftop solar installations and enable more customers get the most out of their solar investment.

All CitiPower customers, from Port Melbourne to Balwyn, Thornbury to St Kilda and suburbs in between, will benefit from improved power quality and better reliability as a result of the works.

Since the work has been completed, the percentage of new customer solar connections with approval to export their excess power into the CitiPower network has reached 98%.

CitiPower General Manager Electricity Networks, Mark Clarke, said the major works program involved balancing voltage across all powerlines and changing the settings on major transformers to reduce overall voltage levels.

“Rooftop solar is an increasingly popular energy choice for our customers, with more than 1,600 new solar systems connected to the CitiPower network this year so far,” Mr Clarke said.

“We recognise the future of energy is being driven by customer choices and this upgrade is just one way we are working to support customers as they invest in solar and other technology.”

“The works have allowed most of our customers in these areas to export their excess solar, while also supporting Victoria to reduce emissions and increase cleaner energy generation.”

About 5.6% (16,025) of CitiPower’s residential customers have invested in solar and are generating almost 60MW of electricity.

The work is part of CitiPower’s Future Networks program, designed to enable more customers connect solar, electric vehicles and battery storage which incorporates a dedicated solar enablement initiative and the expansion of the network’s digital capability to facilitate a variety of choices for customers.

Solar customers who currently have a limit on the amount they can export are invited to contact CitiPower to reapply for an export agreement based on the greater capacity now available on the network.

More information about the program and how customers can get the most out of their rooftop solar is available at www.powercor.com.au/solar-energy