{"id":"F2019L01583","name":"Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Zone Ratings and Zones for Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems) Instrument 2019","slug":"renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440323,"registerId":"F2019L01583-fast-fetch-1775955998845","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Zone Ratings and Zones for Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems) Instrument 2019","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nRenewable Energy (Electricity) (Zone Ratings and Zones for Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems) Instrument 2019\n\n\nThe Clean Energy Regulator makes the following instrument.\n\nSigned on behalf of the Clean Energy Regulator on 3 December 2019.\n\n \n\n| Anne T. Brown
Member of the Clean Energy Regulator | David Parker
Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Revocation\n\n5 Zone ratings\n\n6 Zones\n\n7 Transitional arrangements\n\n \n\n1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Zone Ratings and Zones for Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems) Instrument 2019.\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences on 1 January 2020.\n\n3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under subregulation 20(4) of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001.\n\n4 Revocation\n\n All previous determinations made for the purposes of subregulation 20(4) of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 are revoked.\n\n5 Zone ratings\n\nFor subregulation 20(1)(b) of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001, the zone rating for a solar (photovoltaic) system is the rating mentioned in the following table for the zone where the system is installed.\n\nNote: For the zone where the system is installed, see section 6.\n\n \n\n- Zone ratings for solar (photovoltaic) systems\n- Item Zone Rating\n- 1 1 1.622\n- 2 2 1.536\n- 3 3 1.382\n- 4 4 1.185\n\n\n6 Zones\n\nThe zone where a solar (photovoltaic) system is installed is the zone mentioned in the following table for the postcode where the system is installed.\n\n \n\n- Zones for postcodes where solar (photovoltaic) systems are installed\n- Item Postcodes Zone\n- From To\n- 1 0000 0799 3\n- 2 0800 0853 2\n- 3 0854 0854 3\n- 4 0855 0861 2\n- 5 0862 0862 3\n- 6 0863 0869 2\n- 7 0870 0879 1\n- 8 0880 0885 3\n- 9 0886 1000 2\n- 10 1001 2355 3\n- 11 2356 2357 2\n- 12 2358 2384 3\n- 13 2385 2389 2\n- 14 2390 2395 3\n- 15 2396 2397 2\n- 16 2398 2399 3\n- 17 2400 2400 2\n- 18 2401 2404 3\n- 19 2405 2407 2\n- 20 2408 2544 3\n- 21 2545 2554 4\n- 22 2555 2627 3\n- 23 2628 2628 4\n- 24 2629 2629 3\n- 25 2630 2639 4\n- 26 2640 2816 3\n- 27 2817 2817 2\n- 28 2818 2820 3\n- 29 2821 2829 2\n- 30 2830 2830 3\n- 31 2831 2841 2\n- 32 2842 2872 3\n- 33 2873 2873 2\n- 34 2874 2877 3\n- 35 2878 2889 2\n- 36 2890 2999 3\n- 37 3000 3035 4\n- 38 3036 3038 3\n- 39 3039 3044 4\n- 40 3045 3045 3\n- 41 3046 3046 4\n- 42 3047 3049 3\n- 43 3050 3058 4\n- 44 3059 3059 3\n- 45 3060 3060 4\n- 46 3061 3064 3\n- 47 3065 3074 4\n- 48 3075 3076 3\n- 49 3077 3098 4\n- 50 3099 3099 3\n- 51 3100 3292 4\n- 52 3293 3302 3\n- 53 3303 3308 4\n- 54 3309 3319 3\n- 55 3320 3333 4\n- 56 3334 3337 3\n- 57 3338 3339 4\n- 58 3340 3758 3\n- 59 3759 3760 4\n- 60 3761 3764 3\n- 61 3765 3999 4\n- 62 4000 4416 3\n- 63 4417 4417 2\n- 64 4418 4427 3\n- 65 4428 4473 2\n- 66 4474 4476 1\n- 67 4477 4478 2\n- 68 4479 4485 1\n- 69 4486 4491 2\n- 70 4492 4492 1\n- 71 4493 4493 2\n- 72 4494 4494 3\n- 73 4495 4497 2\n- 74 4498 4719 3\n- 75 4720 4722 2\n- 76 4723 4723 3\n- 77 4724 4734 2\n- 78 4735 4736 1\n- 79 4737 4822 3\n- 80 4823 4823 2\n- 81 4824 4824 3\n- 82 4825 4827 2\n- 83 4828 4828 3\n- 84 4829 4829 1\n- 85 4830 5431 3\n- 86 5432 5450 2\n- 87 5451 5654 3\n- 88 5655 5669 2\n- 89 5670 5679 3\n- 90 5680 5699 2\n- 91 5700 5709 3\n- 92 5710 5722 2\n- 93 5723 5724 1\n- 94 5725 5730 2\n- 95 5731 5731 1\n- 96 5732 5732 2\n- 97 5733 5799 1\n- 98 5800 6043 3\n- 99 6044 6044 2\n- 100 6045 6256 3\n- 101 6257 6270 4\n- 102 6271 6316 3\n- 103 6317 6349 4\n- 104 6350 6353 3\n- 105 6354 6356 4\n- 106 6357 6394 3\n- 107 6395 6400 4\n- 108 6401 6430 3\n- 109 6431 6431 2\n- 110 6432 6433 3\n- 111 6434 6440 2\n- 112 6441 6441 1\n- 113 6442 6444 3\n- 114 6445 6459 4\n- 115 6460 6467 3\n- 116 6468 6469 2\n- 117 6470 6471 3\n- 118 6472 6472 2\n- 119 6473 6506 3\n- 120 6507 6508 2\n- 121 6509 6509 3\n- 122 6510 6536 2\n- 123 6537 6537 1\n- 124 6538 6555 2\n- 125 6556 6573 3\n- 126 6574 6602 2\n- 127 6603 6607 3\n- 128 6608 6641 2\n- 129 6642 6724 1\n- 130 6725 6750 2\n- 131 6751 6764 1\n- 132 6765 6765 2\n- 133 6766 6797 1\n- 134 6798 6799 2\n- 135 6800 6999 3\n- 136 7000 8999 4\n- 137 9000 9999 3\n\n\n \n\n7 Transitional arrangements\n\nDespite section 6 of this Instrument, if:\n\n(a) a solar (photovoltaic) system was installed prior to the commencement of this Instrument; and\n\n(b) the number of the zone that would have applied to that system under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Zone Ratings and Zones for Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems) Instrument 2018, as in force immediately before the commencement of this Instrument, is lower than the number mentioned under section 6 of this Instrument;\n\nthen the zone is the lower number.\n\n \n\n \n\n\nThis page has been left blank, intentionally.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument maintains its original narrow purpose: setting zone ratings and postcode mappings for solar PV systems under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations. It is a routine annual/update instrument that replaces its 2018 predecessor without expanding into new areas."},"complexity_factors":["Only 7 short sections with no subsections beyond single paragraphs","No defined terms section — relies entirely on definitions in the parent Regulations","Minimal conditional logic: only one transitional provision with a simple two-part test","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulation citation","Primary content is two straightforward lookup tables (zone ratings and postcode mappings)","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions in the operative provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument assigns Australian postcodes to four solar zones with fixed rating numbers that determine how many Small‑scale Technology Certificates (STCs) you receive for rooftop solar. That rating directly affects the rebate and upfront price for homeowners, businesses, solar retailers and the Clean Energy Regulator. It matters because sunnier zones yield more certificates and savings; installations before 1 Jan 2020 keep any better (lower) zone rating they previously had."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument replaces earlier determinations by revoking them (section 4) and publishes an updated postcode-to-zone mapping (section 6) and associated zone multipliers (section 5). It alters the applied zone for some locations relative to the prior instrument, but limits immediate effect for existing installations by allowing the lower previous zone to continue for systems installed before commencement (section 7). Authority to make the determination is exercised by the Clean Energy Regulator under subregulation 20(4) (section 3)."},"complexity_factors":["Large postcode-to-zone mapping table (section 6) — many discrete ranges increase administrative detail and the chance of clerical errors when determining a system's zone.","Precise numeric zone multipliers (section 5) — small decimal differences (1.622, 1.536, 1.382, 1.185) directly affect calculated ratings and downstream entitlement calculations.","Revocation of prior determinations (section 4) — replacement of earlier mappings requires updating records and checking affected registrations.","Transitional rule referencing the 2018 instrument (section 7) — implementers must compare prior instrument zone numbers for pre-commencement installations to determine whether the lower earlier zone applies.","Fixed commencement date (section 2) — creates a hard compliance deadline for affected parties and administrators.","Delegated administrative authority (section 3 and instrument header) — the Clean Energy Regulator issues the mapping under subregulation 20(4), concentrating the mapping decision in the regulator rather than in primary legislation."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument assigns every Australian postcode to one of four solar zones and sets a numeric zone-rating multiplier for each zone that is used to calculate a solar (photovoltaic) system's rating under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001. It revokes earlier determinations, takes effect 1 January 2020, and preserves a lower earlier zone for systems installed before commencement."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019","history":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/renewable-energy-electricity-zone-ratings-and-zones-for-solar-photovoltaic-systems-instrument-2019/documents"}}