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I guess the logic is kerb side chargers are the same as street lights. My view no they are not!

Re batteries on the distribution system if it makes sense to them then do it. Once it’s in the RAB then they can seek to value stack but would need to abide by the shared assets guidelines reducing their allowed revenues.

Personally, as an old DNSP engineer I reckon there might be a case for battery replacement in Zone Substations which have a room full of lead acid batteries for local supply to the switchgear and protection relays, doubly if the ZS has cap banks or statcoms. Replace those assets with a battery behind a grid forming inverter. A nice steady program of asset replacement. And again if they seek other value then SAG apply.

However experience tells me that as soon as you mention SAG the DNSP crumbles because it reduces their AER allowed revenue.

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author

Thanks for the comment Troy!

Yeah that's a good call out, and a great application of the SAG. Batteries embedded in the zone sub are perfect for DNSPs to install. But 5MW front of meter batteries is a competitive market, hard to see the need.

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Aug 27Liked by Declan

| “equity/equitable” (gets 12 mentions, excluding its appearance in “private equity firm.”)

I never thought about that double meaning before! Great article Declan

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author

Thanks Nick!

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