Community battery FAQs

Customers need to contact a participating energy retailer to sign up to Energy Storage as a Service (ESaaS).

Ausgrid is currently deploying community batteries where they can maximise the network and customer benefits.  

You do not need to partner with Ausgrid to install a community battery. If you wish to install your own community battery and connect it to Ausgrid’s network, you can submit a connection request. Ausgrid will not own or operate this battery.  

If you wish to obtain in-principle agreement from Ausgrid for a suitable network connection point, please submit a preliminary enquiry. You can also choose to directly progress to the connections applications process and avoid the additional cost of a preliminary enquiry – however for speculative projects the preliminary enquiry provides more flexibility. We will respond to your enquiry within 10 business days. Undertaking a preliminary enquiry has an upfront non-refundable fee of $473.07, so we recommend that you assess all other criteria before submitting your enquiry. 

Third party owned batteries are eligible to participate in the current local-use-of-system (LUOS) tariff which facilitates energy retailers to offer ESaaS.

Yes, they are safe. Ausgrid will work with our partners to deliver and maintain community batteries under the same unconditional commitment to safety as we do for any of our network assets. Ausgrid is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the community batteries. Electromagnetic field (EMF) levels will be within Ausgrid’s existing network standards and guidelines recommended by Australia’s health authorities.

The batteries have remote monitoring capabilities and will be monitored by Ausgrid’s 24/7 control room. If abnormal conditions are detected, the battery and power conversion equipment will disconnect to protect the local electrical network.

All Ausgrid installed batteries comply with the Environmental Protection Authority’s noise guidelines. We take the same approach as we do for constructing any network equipment by assessing potential noise impacts and putting in place any necessary controls to comply with these guidelines. 

Noise is primarily produced during charging cycles and from air conditioning units that maintain ambient temperature for the battery. Community impacts have been carefully considered in selecting battery locations. Residents who live within the vicinity of the batteries were consulted on noise levels prior to installation of the battery units.