The history of NEPKI

Feb 2025: NSW Government consults on NSW Emergency Backstop Mechanismand CER Installer Portal and the intention for NSW DNSPs to harmonise approaches to PKIs

May 2025: NSW Government releases its Consultation Summary supporting a national approach to PKI for CER to harmonise the NSW Emergency Backstop Mechanism’s implementation

Sep 2025: NEPKI’s Board is appointed and it is incorporated

July 2024: ECMC (Energy Ministers) agreed in the National CER Roadmap to establish NEPKI via the CER WG, Energy Security and Resilience Working Group and ENA

Sep 2024: NSW Government Consumer Energy Strategy highlights need for Emergency Backstop Mechanism for solar.

Feb 2023: Queensland Government introduces the Emergency Backstop Mechanism

Oct 2023: Energy Networks Australia organises a workshop with DNSPs and industry to co-design a national PKI solution & Victoria Government introduces the Emergency Backstop Mechanism

July 2024: ECMC (Energy Ministers) agreed in the National CER Roadmap to establish NEPKI via the CER WG, Energy Security and Resilience Working Group and ENA

Sep 2024: NSW Government Consumer Energy Strategy highlights need for Emergency Backstop Mechanism for solar.

Jul 2022: The DEIP ISC Cybersecurity Working Group recommends DNSPs operate their own PKIs as an interim solution and recommend that the Energy Security Board establish a new national certificate issuing authority; Ergon Energy and Energex offer dynamic connections to all customers on an opt-in basis

Sep 2022: Ergon Energy and Energex carries out industry consultation on enabling the Emergency Backstop Mechanism

Nov 2022: SA’s Solar Curtailment is used for the first time when SA was islanded from the National Energy Market after severe storms

Ergon Energy and Energex request formal guidance from ARENA’s Distributed Energy Integration Program (DEIP) Interoperability Steering Committee (ISC) Cybersecurity Working Group on which entity would be best placed to manage a national PKI program

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s  (AEMO) Renewable Integration Study calls for controls to manage rooftop solar exports to protect energy grid stability in an emergency and Action 3.3 recommended work to set minimum technical standards for CER in the NEM including cyber security requirements

Jun 2020: The South Australian Government consulted on prescribing remote disconnection and reconnection requirements for rooftop solar exports

SA ‘Smarter Homes’ regulatory changes come into effect. Solar curtailment is now possible within regulation in SA

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) forms a working group to standardise a common minimum communication protocol for CER in Australia, this becomes work is what later becomes the Common Smart Inverter Profile – Australia (CSIP-AUS)