Access Rights and Consumer Protections in a Distributed Energy System

Abstract

Within Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM), distributed technologies are delivering energy in ways that were not contemplated when regulations governing consumer rights and protections were developed. The adoption of technologies, such as rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, and virtual power plants will give rise to an increasingly heterogeneous mix of electricity customers who will expect their utilities to cater for their individual preferences. Over time, the types of grid services that are considered to be “essential” may evolve, leading to redefined and technology-neutral access rights for electricity infrastructure. Consumer protection frameworks will need to balance innovation and consumer choice with universal access to electricity supply.