Community batteries

With more renewable energy connected to our network every year, storing all that clean energy becomes essential — especially to shift solar power collected during the day to when it’s needed most.

Community batteries help integrate renewable energy into our network and provide a range of services to keep everyone’s power reliable. These batteries can be owned by a distribution network, a local government, private businesses, or not-for-profits.

If you intend to connect a community battery to our network, there are some you’ll need to confirm before lodging your application, including:

• proposed load import and export
• the land your battery will be on
• if your main service board must be upgraded.

Our Powerful Neighbours Report outlines the steps you need to connect community batteries to the distribution network, from feasibility through to energisation. We recommend that you also speak to a registered electrical contractor or consultant as part of your feasibility study.

Our role and services

Once your scope is ready and your land is confirmed, we will conduct a connection study and issue you with a connection agreement. Your CitiPower/Powercor contact will guide you through the process from planning to commissioning. Under this model, the project proponent covers all costs and operations. To get in contact email electricavenue@powercor.com.au 

We are offering a community battery trial network tariff for new community batteries  until June 2026. This tariff, designed for third party-owned batteries with a capacity of less than 240 kVA, and provides an annual net rebate of $1,500 to $2,000 if the battery avoids importing electricity between 4pm and 9pm.

Each year we release commercial opportunities for third parties to support the network. This may include community batteries if they are more cost-effective than traditional upgrades to the poles and wires.

We publish these opportunities and seek proposals through our Flexibility Marketplace.