Key points
- New solar in SA can choose a fixed export limit (1.5 kW per phase) or flexible exports (up to 10 kW per phase when the grid has capacity).
- Most eligible customers choose flexible exports, and full export capacity is available most of the time.
- Under SA’s Smarter Homes rules, new and upgraded solar must be able to be remotely turned down in emergencies.
- In August 2026 SA Power Networks tested the “backstop” on about 100,000 systems. Homes lost about 1.5 kWh of generation on average.
With well over half of South Australian homes running rooftop solar, SA has become a world test bed for managing a grid powered by millions of small systems. That has brought new rules for how solar connects and exports. If you’re installing or upgrading solar in Adelaide, here’s what flexible exports, Smarter Homes and the emergency backstop mean for you.
Why SA needs these rules
At 1:30pm on 31 August 2026, rooftop solar met 99.9% of South Australia’s electricity demand, and large-scale generators dropped to almost nothing. About 57% of SA homes now have solar, adding up to roughly 2.9 GW. When that much power floods into the grid at midday, the network needs ways to manage voltage and keep the system stable, especially on mild, sunny days when demand is low.
Fixed vs flexible exports
Since 1 July 2023, flexible exports have been a standard option for new and upgraded solar connections across SA Power Networks’ area:
| Fixed export | Flexible export | |
|---|---|---|
| Export limit | 1.5 kW per phase (or zero export) | Up to 10 kW per phase, adjusted to grid conditions |
| Internet connection | Not required | Required. Exports fall back to 1.5 kW if the connection drops. |
| Inverter | Standard | Must support dynamic export limits |
| Best for | Low-export homes, or no reliable internet | Most homes, especially with larger systems |
The large majority of eligible customers choose flexible exports, and SA Power Networks reports that full export capacity is available most of the time. Exports are only scaled back at times of network constraint.
Regional customers on single-wire earth return (SWER) lines can now connect up to 10 kW of solar and 10 kW of battery, double the previous limit.
Smarter Homes and the “Relevant Agent”
Since 28 September 2020, South Australia’s Smarter Homes requirements have applied to new and upgraded solar. Systems must be capable of being remotely disconnected and reconnected, and the owner must nominate a Relevant Agent (usually the installer, retailer or manufacturer) who can act on a request from the market operator during a grid emergency. The rules also cover inverter settings that help the grid ride through disturbances.
The August 2026 backstop test
On 25 August 2026, SA Power Networks tested the emergency backstop across the state. About 100,000 rooftop systems were curtailed for less than an hour. The average household lost about 1.5 kWh of generation, a few cents’ worth. The test checked that systems responded, that Relevant Agents acted quickly and that systems came back online. Installers or manufacturers will follow up any systems that didn’t respond correctly.
Will this cost me money? Hardly. The backstop is a last resort for rare grid emergencies, not everyday curtailment. Correctly installed systems with a battery can usually keep charging from solar even when exports are limited.
Smart meters for every home by 2030
Under national rules, every home must have a smart meter by 2030. SA Power Networks’ legacy meter replacement program runs from December 2025 to November 2030. A smart meter is required for time-of-use pricing, the new Solar Sharer free-power plans and most battery and VPP offers.
What this means when you buy solar
- Choose an inverter that supports dynamic exports and SA’s remote disconnection requirements. Any reputable installer will only offer compliant gear.
- Make sure your installer sets up the Relevant Agent and the flexible export connection correctly, and tests the internet connection.
- Consider a battery. It soaks up solar that would otherwise be exported or curtailed, and the federal battery discount is at its highest until 31 December 2026.
Sources: SA Power Networks – Flexible exports; Department for Energy and Mining – Regulatory changes for Smarter Homes; Solar Now / PV Tech – SA backstop test (4 Oct 2026); pv magazine (2 Sep 2026); SA Power Networks – Smart meter rollout. Featured image: Bidgee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
