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Victoria’s Emergency Backstop Mechanism for Solar

The Victorian Government has implemented an Emergency Backstop procedure for solar systems

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The Emergency Backstop procedure will allow electricity distribution businesses to stop inverters feeding into the grid. It’s designed to ensure that the grid is not overloaded with incoming generated power in events of high generation and low usage. 



It will only be used as a last resort to avoid widespread power outages and has been mandated by the Victorian government.

Occasionally when there is low demand for electricity, more solar is exported to the grid than we can use, which can cause unstable electricity supply, local voltage issues and possible outages.

The emergency backstop will make sure that solar exports can be safely managed. It will help to avoid blackouts by enabling rooftop solar systems to be turned down or switched off when there is too much power in the grid.

Using the emergency backstop is a last resort. It will not affect the supply of electricity to your home. It will only be used when required and only for as long as it is needed, in rare emergencies when solar exports are too high to be safely managed.

From 1 October 2024, an emergency backstop applies to all new, upgraded and replacement rooftop solar systems less than or equal to 200kW (small and medium).

This means the power you generate and feed into the grid can be remotely turned down or switched off in an emergency, as a last resort.

If you are installing or upgrading your rooftop solar system after 1 October 2024, your installer must ensure it is emergency backstop enabled.

This requires:

  • a compatible inverter. This means the export and generation from the inverter is capable of being remotely managed.
  • a reliable internet connection: this will ensure the distribution business can communicate with the inverter (unless an exception applies).

If you do not have rooftop solar, or you have an existing rooftop solar system installed before 1 October 2024, then these changes will not impact you.

  • The use of CSIP-AUS approved solar inverters for all systems below 200kW
  • The need for an internet connection to the inverters to enable testing of PV system for compliance
  • Any changes to an existing system including increase in panel numbers, change of panel types and/or inverters (except like for like replacement) and/or addition of batteries will result in the PV system needing the emergency backstop protocol
  • If internet connection is not present or drops out, a cap will be put on exports from the PV system, to a predetermined minimum amount (each provider will have a limit). Self-consumption of generated power will continue as normal (1kW for Ausnet, 500W for Jemena and 0W for Citipower/Powercor).