Synergy’s Solar Rewards initiative, which kicked off at the start of October, is supporting Western Australians who have invested in rooftop solar and helping to stabilise the state’s energy grid.
Solar Rewards allows Synergy to temporarily turn off participating households’ rooftop solar, when electricity demand is low, while providing no cost energy to the home from the grid.
The initiative, which went live on 1 October, assists in maintaining the stability of the South West Interconnected System, when rooftop solar electricity generation is high, but demand is low. Dubbed a low load event, this typically occurs in the middle of the day in Spring and Autumn.
Households will receive a $100 credit towards their electricity bill, $50 at the beginning and $50 at the end of their contract, and credit to cover electricity consumed during a Solar Rewards event.
More than 2,600 Synergy customers signed up for Solar Rewards during a targeted campaign, with many more joining the waitlist.
To be eligible, Synergy customers must have a rooftop solar system with an inverter capacity of five kilowatts or less that is able to be remotely turned off.
Plico Energy is providing additional support through its community of more than 1,600 solar and battery customers via its virtual power plant.
The Solar Rewards initiative will help reduce the need for Emergency Solar Management, where rooftop solar systems are turned off remotely as a last resort to protect the grid during emergencies.
Western Australian Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston, said that Solar Rewards is a win-win initiative and that he’s not surprised it’s so popular.
“Participating Synergy customers can save money on their energy bill while also helping maintain the stability of the grid,” Mr Johnston said.
“Solar Rewards is one of many ways the State Government is providing a more sustainable, affordable and reliable energy future for Western Australians.”