Community Wave

We want to connect more renewable energy to the network. Supported by our energy management tech, we can now accommodate this. That's why we're launching Community Wave.

Community Wave is our Virtual Power Plant (VPP). It helps us connect and coordinate the supply and demand of connected energy assets like solar and batteries:

• balancing the flow of solar energy to and from the network;
• maintaining a safe and reliable power supply to the whole community; and
• allowing more energy assets to connect.

You'll enjoy access to the bill-saving benefits of installing solar and battery, such as:

• generating your own solar energy during the day; and
• drawing on stored solar energy when the sun isn't shining (if you install a battery).

Plus... members may also be eligible for:

• exclusive buyback rates for exporting excess solar back to the grid; and

And you’ll be supporting your local, regional energy network.

Energy management through Community Wave means Horizon Power can manage the flow of solar energy to and from the grid when there’s too much or too little solar energy being generated by all the systems on the network. Think of it like adjusting a tap where we can leave it on full if it’s flowing down the drain or turn it down a little to keep the sink from overflowing. ​

​We manage this flow of energy through “Smart Connect Solar”. Smart Connect Solar means your solar system is connected to your hard-wired internet connection and a piece of technology called a Secure Gateway Device. This connects your solar system to our energy management system (called Distributed Energy Resource Management System, or DERMS for short) and is done by your solar installer during installation. ​

​To keep the grid stable and prevent unnecessary power outages (or the “sink” from overflowing), we may occasionally need to turn down the amount of electricity your solar system is generating or exporting. On average, these adjustments shouldn’t cut your solar generation by more than 10% over a year. ​

​We turn down our own solar and wind farms first so we can minimise the impact of energy management on customer systems. But if we need to dial down the amount of solar energy from your system, this will be done by the same amount for all the smart connected systems in the town, so it’s fair.​

​If you also have a battery installed with your system, the settings will be configured so it doesn’t export any excess energy to the grid during the sunniest part of the day (10am – 3pm) or charge from the grid during the evening peak (6pm – 9pm) when the whole community needs the most energy at once. ​

​We always want to be transparent with your energy management. You can see how much your system has been energy managed each month by logging into My Account.

It depends on your situation...

I already have a solar system

If you already have a solar system installed, nothing changes.  

I already have a solar system but want to access the benefits of Community Wave

Customers with existing solar PV systems can join Community Wave. However, you may need some modifications to your existing solar system. This could include a: 

• Hard-wired internet connnection to smart connect your solar and battery assets to the network.
• Compatible solar inverter to connect your energy assets to our Secure Gateway Device (SGD).

+ Learn more about Smart Connect solar & battery  

I'm installing solar, battery or both for the first time or upgrading my existing system

From 1 July 2025, Community Wave applies to:

• all new solar and battery installations; and
• any upgrades to an existing system including adding a battery or replacing your solar inverter.

From time to time, we may need to...

Turn down the amount of electricity your solar system generates, to protect our network.
On average, these adjustments shouldn't cut your solar generation by more than 10% over a year.

Limit storage or discharge of battery systems and other assets to maintain grid stability. Your battery settings will be set to:

• not export any excess energy to the network during the sunniest part of the day;
• or charge during the network peak in the afternoon between 3pm - 9pm. This is when the whole community uses the most energy at once.

Try our solar and battery calculator so see how much you could be saving.

Yes. Besides the cost of your solar and/or battery system from your solar installer, joining Community Wave is free. 

​Community Wave requires a small device to be connected during installation, known as a Secure Gateway Device (SGD).

This device connects your solar inverter to our energy management system. We call this “Smart Connected Solar”. If the solar inverter size is larger than 30 kVa, then you will be charged a fee for the Secure Gateway Device (supplied by us).​

​Any costs to install and connect the SGD are at your installer's discretion.

Yes. You'll need a hard-wired internet connection between your energy assets and the Secure Gateway Device (SGD).

This allows us to communicate securely with your system from time to time - if energy management is required (to maintain network stability). 

+ Learn more about energy management

If you choose to, you can opt out of any eligible Community Wave Renewable Rewards by calling us on 1800 267 926.​

​If you opt out of Community Wave Renewable Rewards your renewable energy system will remain subject to the terms of the agreement and will continue to be energy managed. This ensures your system complies with the Technical Requirements for renewable energy systems connected to the Horizon Power grid.

Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers are not currently part of Community Wave or influenced by energy management.

To maximise your savings, we recommend charging your EV during the day to take advantage of electricity generated by the sun.

Please note, if you plan to install a charger greater than 2.4 kW, you must submit an EV Connect application.