Connecting your solar and next steps

Who is involved?

Brighte, your solar installer, and electricity retailer/ distributor all work together to get you connected.

Brighte

• Provides the finance for your solar system, and pays the solar installer once the installation has been completed.
• Your repayments to Brighte begin after the vendor has notified us that your solar system has been installed

Solar installer

• Completes the installation of your solar system

• Your solar installer will communicate with your energy retailer or distributor to arrange the connection to the grid and a meter exchange if required

Electricity retailer/distributor

• Electricity distributors own the poles and wires that deliver power to homes and businesses. They take care of the connection to the grid.

• Electricity retailers measure how much electricity you are producing or consuming and send out your energy bill.

Grid connection

Ask your solar installer if they will arrange for your solar system to be connected to the grid, which includes submitting all relevant documentation to your energy retailer. The good news is that most solar retails will complete this step for you.  

Documents required:

• Confirmation of grid-connection approval

• Electrical Work Request or equivalent document for your state or territory

• Compliance certificate

Smart meter installation

Once you have installed solar panels you may need to upgrade to a smart meter, so you can gain benefits from your solar system

About smart meters:

• A smart meter (or advanced meter) is a digital device used to track and manage energy usage.

• A smart meter takes the hassle out of manual meter reads and automatically communicates an accurate reading to your energy supplier whilst providing you information about your solar generation and usage

Who installs the smart meter?

• Your solar installer will need to notify either your distributor or electricity retailer to organise a meter exchange

• If unsure about the process, you can contact your solar installer for more information

When will my new meter be installed?

Your solar installer will submit an application to your energy retailer or distributor on your behalf. Once this request has been made, the estimated installation timeframes according to each state:  

NSW, SA, ACT, QLD, TAS

• On an agreed date or no later than 15 business days of receiving the request

• If you are building a new property, the meter must be installed within 6 business days once the property is connected to the grid

VIC

• Smart meters have already been rolled out to all households and businesses in Victoria

• However, if required, the meter must be installed on an agreed date or within 10 business days of receiving the request

WA

• Your solar installer will put in an application with Synergy. Once this has been approved by Synergy, the smart meter will be installed by Western Power within 15 business days

NT

• The smart meter is installed by Power and Water Corporation and takes up to 6-8 weeks

For more information see:

Smart Meters - Australian Energy Regulator

Metering - Australian Energy Market Commission

My solar system has been connected, what next?

• Once your smart meter is installed you will be provided with an app where you will be able to monitor your electricity usage and generation. If you have any other issues around connecting your solar system you can contact your vendor.

• To manage your Brighte account, you can you can log onto the Brighte Portal