Open letter - the AER's expectations of distributors on customer engagement prior to the installation of SAPS- August 2022

On 1 August 2022, we released the final updates to the following six documents, to give effect to the new rules allowing distributors to provide SAPS to existing customers, and to offer to connect new customers to existing distributor-operated SAPS (also called regulated SAPS) where it is more economically efficient than connection to the interconnected national electricity system.

Our decision:

• explains what stand-alone power systems (SAPS) are and the advantages they have over a connected network
• describes the SAPS rule changes coming into effect 1 August 2022, including how the changes integrate the principles of value for money and consumer protections
• outlines the amendments we have made, including our response to issues raised in stakeholder submissions.