DER

Ausgrid Community Power Network trial waiver application

The AER is currently considering a trial waiver application from Ausgrid. Consultation on this trial closes 16 September 2025, and will include three public workshops on the proposal. A final decision on the application will be made after completion of consultation. 

Overview

The AER is currently considering a trial waiver application from Ausgrid. Consultation on this trial closes 16 September 2025. Submissions to this consultation should be lodged at the following email address: regulatorysandbox@aer.gov.au.

Recently the AER released an Issues Paper seeking views on Ausgrid's trial waiver application. Ausgrid is a distribution network service provider (or DNSP, a company that owns and operates the poles and wires that transmit energy to customers) servicing the greater Sydney region of New South Wales. It is seeking a waiver from provisions of the National Electricity Law and Rules to allow it to trial its Community Power Network in two regions: Charmhaven (a largely, residential area on the Central Coast of NSW) and Mascot-Botany (an area in inner Sydney, which has a mix of commercial and industrial customers, as well as many apartment buildings). These locations were chosen as they represent different challenges in providing equitable access to CER/DER assets under current market structures. 

This trial would directly affect around 32,000 of Ausgrid’s customers who live or own properties/businesses within the trial areas. The trial would also indirectly affect Ausgrid’s broader customer base in relation to funding, emissions reduction and broader network learnings. If successful, the trial may lead to increased solar network capacity, improved network utilisation and reduce emissions. The distribution of dividends from a DNSP to customers may also be novel and innovative, and customers in the pilot area may experience lower costs overall.

Below are the Issues Paper (which sets out a number of questions that the AER is seeking feedback from stakeholders in relation to), and Ausgrid's application and supporting document. When submissions are received, all public submissions will be published here also.  

Ausgrid's proposal is the first trial application under the policy-led sandboxing approach launched by the AER in February 2025.

Map of proposed trial areas

Map of Mascot - Botany trial area

Areas in grey highlight are the proposed trial sites for Mascot/Botany.
Map of Charmhaven trial area

Areas in grey highlight are the proposed trial sites for Charmhaven.
 

Public Workshops

Stakeholder workshops

The AER held three public workshops between 25 and 27 August 2025 as part of its consultation on the Community Power Network application.
 
A de-identified summary of the discussions within the workshops is published below. The workshop PowerPoint slides are also provided. These summaries are a reflection of participant views and do not reflect the views or position of the AER. They have been edited slightly for clarity or to ensure participants are not identifiable.  

Feedback provided in these workshops will assist in the AER’s assessment of this trial application.
We thank participants for their time and encourage submissions to be made by 16 September 2025. Submissions should be lodged at the following email address: regulatorysandbox@aer.gov.au.

EIT Ausgrid August Workshop Summaries.pdf (pdf 180.43 KB)
EIT Ausgrid August Workshop Slides.pdf (pdf 1 MB)

Issues Paper and Application Documents

Ausgrid Trial Waiver Issues Paper - August 2025.pdf (pdf 351.24 KB)
Ausgrid trial waiver application - redacted.pdf (pdf 147.19 KB)
Ausgrid - Community Power Network Proposal 30 July 2025.pdf (pdf 1.06 MB)

Consultation submissions

AEMO - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 705.36 KB)
AGL - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 271.23 KB)
Ausgrid Customer Consultative Committee and Network Innovation Advisory Committee - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 214.64 KB)
Australian Energy Council - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 964.7 KB)
Carol Berry MP - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 346.58 KB)
Centre for Independent Studies - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 221.14 KB)
City of Sydney - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 170.63 KB)
Clean Energy Council - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 690.43 KB)
Committee for Sydney - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 198.28 KB)
Compliance Quarter - Ausgrid CPN trial.pdf (pdf 1.12 MB)
Enel X - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 470.28 KB)
Energy Consumers Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 1.19 MB)
Energy Networks Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 288.47 KB)
EnergyAustralia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 260.73 KB)
ENGIE - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 383.37 KB)
Essential Energy - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 661.83 KB)
Evie Networks - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 465.84 KB)
Flow Power - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 347.02 KB)
Green Peak Energy - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 548.09 KB)
Hunter PV - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 250.3 KB)
Justice Equity Centre - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 439.51 KB)
Master Electricians Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 62.74 KB)
Matt Thistlethwaite MP - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 364.73 KB)
National Electrical and Communications Association - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 358.43 KB)
Nexa Advisory - Ausgrid CPN trial.pdf (pdf 423.08 KB)
NSW Minister Harris - Ausgrid CPN trial.pdf (pdf 888.74 KB)
Origin Energy - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 333.38 KB)
Property Council of Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 213.68 KB)
Resilient Sydney - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 271.21 KB)
Rewiring Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 69.48 KB)
Senator Cadell - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 280.58 KB)
Simon Kennedy MP - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 297.21 KB)
Solar Citizens - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 339.52 KB)
Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 143.96 KB)
Tech Council of Australia - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 379.19 KB)
Tesla - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 201.62 KB)
UNSW - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 333.07 KB)
[Late submission] Alinta Energy - Ausgrid CPN.pdf (pdf 240.86 KB)