Electricity Authority - Distributed Generation Information Overhaul & ARC Implementation

Overview

After a consultation process, the Electricity Authority has deployed the underlying Registry updates providing distributor's the ability to create new distributed energy resource 'DER' events. This new component type provides not only the ability to store substantially more information pertaining to an ICP's distributed resource/generation information but also separates the information out from old field stored on the 'Network' event.

We think the DER implementation approach taken by the Electricity Authority is a great update, and touches on many of the points we wrote about in our submission last year.

What's changed?

As outlined in the functional specification, the Registry now supports a new event type ‘DER.’ This is to go alongside existing events ‘Status’, ’Address’, ‘Network’, Pricing’ Trader’ and ‘Meter’ information. This new 'DER' format supports substantially more depth and detail, and may contain the following information:
‍

• List of 'Generating Units" which may contain:
  
  • Generators
    
    • Fuel Type
    • Maximum Export Rate
  • Inverters
    
    • Inverter Type
    • Maximum Export Rate
    • Maximum Charge Rate (V2G)
    • Accredited Performance Standard
  • Batteries
    
    • Maximum Charge Rate
    • Maximum Discharge Rate
    • Nameplate Storage‍‍
• ‍DER Event Summary
  ‍

‍As part of the changes, Distributors are required to utilise the new DER event for any ICPs created after the 1st of August 2025.

ARC’s Implementation

ARC already contained an ‘internal DG register’ which held more information than the Registry, so the new DER event aligned relatively well with our data format. We did, however complete a full interface overhaul to ensure our customers were able to seamlessly move to the new DER format without disruption.

Here are some examples of the ARC: ICP Management's refreshed DER Management Interface:

ARC's ICP Management module update contains all of our usual smarts, automations, and tools for EIPC compliance, served by the interface you know and love. And, as always, this update was made available to all of our ICP Management customers as part of our service at no extra cost.

If you're still getting up to speed with the new DER changes and how they may impact you, feel free to reach out to our expert team.

Cheers, DS Team