Who it is for
Standalone batteries with their own grid connection — not a normal business meter.
Essential Energy battery storage tariffs
Essential Energy · BLND4SB, BLND4LS, BHND4LS · 2026–27
Standalone batteries with their own grid connection — not a normal business meter.
Regional, rural and remote NSW, including most areas outside the major coastal networks.
Compare the battery storage codes.
The exact 2026–27 network rates sit side by side. Open a code below for the worked example, the charge window and the checks before you change anything.
| Code | What it is | Status | Access | Energy | Demand / capacity | Export | Battery fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLND4SBLV Small Scale StorageLow voltage | Dedicated storage import demand and export charge/rebate components. | Available |
| — |
|
| Specialist |
| BLND4LSLV Large Storage / HybridLow voltage | Dedicated storage/hybrid demand and export components. | Available |
| — |
|
| Specialist |
| BHND4LSHV Storage / HybridHigh voltage | Dedicated HV storage/hybrid demand and export components. | Available |
| — |
|
| Specialist |
What this family covers.
These codes share a charging method. The differences are in the rates, the time bands and who each code is for.
What is on the bill
- Specialist connection charges
Solar and battery
Specialist connection projects: the design and the market contract decide the return, not this page.
The codes in detail.
Open a code for its exact rates, the charge window, a worked example and the checks worth running before you change anything.
BLND4SBLV Small Scale StorageNew low-voltage storage-only connections up to and including 250 kW.
BLND4SB LV Small Scale Storage
Who it’s for
New low-voltage storage-only connections up to and including 250 kW.
What you pay
This tariff is for a separate battery or hybrid connection. It is not for a normal business load.
If you get solar
Do not use this tariff to assess solar that shares a meter with normal business equipment.
If you get a battery
Treat this as a specialist connection project. The connection design and market contract control the result.
Check before you decide
- Confirm this code on a current retailer bill.
- Check the connection approval, export limit and protection design.
2026–27 network prices
What it costs, and when
These are the network’s charges only. Your retailer adds its own prices on top.
What the network charges
- Access
- $2.3784/day
- Peak import demand
- $15.4927/kVA/month
- Shoulder import demand
- $6.8171/kVA/month
- Off-peak import demand
- $4.9726/kVA/month
- Evening export rebate
- -5.1906 c/kWh · 5pm–8pm
- Daytime export charge above 1.5 kW
- $1.195/kW/month · 10am–3pm
When the rates apply
Import demand uses the storage time bands. Daytime export charges apply from 10am to 3pm. The LV evening rebate applies from 5pm to 8pm.
Illustrative example
Classify a 200 kW LV standalone battery
- The new battery connects at low voltage.
- Its rated power is 200 kW.
- No business load or generator shares the meter.
This classification does not confirm connection approval or project value.
Would a battery help?
A guide, not a quote
Specialist fit
Dedicated storage dispatch
This code is designed for a storage or hybrid connection, not proof that a battery suits an ordinary business load behind the existing meter.
A battery can reduce these
- Time-varying storage import or export components published for the dedicated connection.
- Market or retailer value where the connection and operating agreement allow it.
A battery can’t change these
- The bill of a separate business load that is not connected behind this meter.
- Connection, protection, augmentation and market-access costs.
You’d need to check
- Connection application, export envelope and network study.
- Half-hourly import and export dispatch model.
- Retailer, market-access and aggregation terms.
- Battery degradation, availability and round-trip efficiency assumptions.
BLND4LSLV Large Storage / HybridNew low-voltage storage or generation connections above 250 kW with no co-located load.
BLND4LS LV Large Storage / Hybrid
Who it’s for
New low-voltage storage or generation connections above 250 kW with no co-located load.
What you pay
This tariff is for a separate battery or hybrid connection. It is not for a normal business load.
If you get solar
Do not use this tariff to assess solar that shares a meter with normal business equipment.
If you get a battery
Treat this as a specialist connection project. The connection design and market contract control the result.
Check before you decide
- Confirm this code on a current retailer bill.
- Check the connection approval, export limit and protection design.
2026–27 network prices
What it costs, and when
These are the network’s charges only. Your retailer adds its own prices on top.
What the network charges
- Access
- $22.3346/day
- Peak import demand
- $15.1181/kVA/month
- Shoulder import demand
- $13.2946/kVA/month
- Off-peak import demand
- $4.4127/kVA/month
- Evening export rebate
- -5.1906 c/kWh · 5pm–8pm
- Daytime export charge above 1.5 kW
- $1.195/kW/month · 10am–3pm
When the rates apply
Import demand uses the storage time bands. Daytime export charges apply from 10am to 3pm. The LV evening rebate applies from 5pm to 8pm.
Illustrative example
Classify a 300 kW LV storage project
- The new battery connects at low voltage.
- Its rated power is 300 kW.
- Only ancillary load shares the meter.
A normal behind-the-meter battery does not use this path. Confirm the connection design with Essential Energy.
Would a battery help?
A guide, not a quote
Specialist fit
Dedicated storage dispatch
This code is designed for a storage or hybrid connection, not proof that a battery suits an ordinary business load behind the existing meter.
A battery can reduce these
- Time-varying storage import or export components published for the dedicated connection.
- Market or retailer value where the connection and operating agreement allow it.
A battery can’t change these
- The bill of a separate business load that is not connected behind this meter.
- Connection, protection, augmentation and market-access costs.
You’d need to check
- Connection application, export envelope and network study.
- Half-hourly import and export dispatch model.
- Retailer, market-access and aggregation terms.
- Battery degradation, availability and round-trip efficiency assumptions.
BHND4LSHV Storage / HybridNew high-voltage storage or hybrid connections with no co-located load.
BHND4LS HV Storage / Hybrid
Who it’s for
New high-voltage storage or hybrid connections with no co-located load.
What you pay
This tariff is for a separate battery or hybrid connection. It is not for a normal business load.
If you get solar
Do not use this tariff to assess solar that shares a meter with normal business equipment.
If you get a battery
Treat this as a specialist connection project. The connection design and market contract control the result.
Check before you decide
- Confirm this code on a current retailer bill.
- Check the connection approval, export limit and protection design.
- Get an engineering review before you select equipment.
2026–27 network prices
What it costs, and when
These are the network’s charges only. Your retailer adds its own prices on top.
What the network charges
- Access
- $27.4319/day
- Peak import demand
- $12.5825/kVA/month
- Shoulder import demand
- $11.2496/kVA/month
- Off-peak import demand
- $3.8099/kVA/month
- Daytime export charge above 1.5 kW
- $0.985/kW/month · 10am–3pm
When the rates apply
Import demand uses the storage time bands. The 2026–27 list also publishes an HV daytime export demand charge.
Illustrative example
Classify a 500 kW HV storage project
- The new battery connects to the high-voltage distribution network.
- Its rated power is 500 kW.
- Only ancillary load shares the meter.
The example uses a project above 250 kW, but voltage is the key distinction from BLND4LS. Confirm the connection offer.
Would a battery help?
A guide, not a quote
Specialist fit
Dedicated storage dispatch
This code is designed for a storage or hybrid connection, not proof that a battery suits an ordinary business load behind the existing meter.
A battery can reduce these
- Time-varying storage import or export components published for the dedicated connection.
- Market or retailer value where the connection and operating agreement allow it.
A battery can’t change these
- The bill of a separate business load that is not connected behind this meter.
- Connection, protection, augmentation and market-access costs.
You’d need to check
- Connection application, export envelope and network study.
- Half-hourly import and export dispatch model.
- Retailer, market-access and aggregation terms.
- Battery degradation, availability and round-trip efficiency assumptions.
Questions about battery storage tariffs.
Short answers to the things people ask before they change a tariff.
What is BLND4SB?
BLND4SB is the Essential Energy LV Small Scale Storage tariff. It is a available low voltage tariff for New low-voltage storage-only connections up to and including 250 kW. Dedicated storage import demand and export charge/rebate components.
What is BLND4LS?
BLND4LS is the Essential Energy LV Large Storage / Hybrid tariff. It is a available low voltage tariff for New low-voltage storage or generation connections above 250 kW with no co-located load. Dedicated storage/hybrid demand and export components.
What is BHND4LS?
BHND4LS is the Essential Energy HV Storage / Hybrid tariff. It is a available high voltage tariff for New high-voltage storage or hybrid connections with no co-located load. Dedicated HV storage/hybrid demand and export components.
Can solar or a battery reduce a battery storage bill?
Specialist connection projects: the design and the market contract decide the return, not this page. For BLND4SB, the battery signal is specialist: This code is designed for a storage or hybrid connection, not proof that a battery suits an ordinary business load behind the existing meter.
How do the battery storage network charges work?
The charges are Specialist connection charges. Import demand uses the storage time bands. Daytime export charges apply from 10am to 3pm. The LV evening rebate applies from 5pm to 8pm.
Which Essential Energy battery storage code applies to my site?
Standalone batteries with their own grid connection — not a normal business meter. The code on your retailer bill is the starting point. Your retailer must confirm any tariff assignment or change.
Are these network prices or retail prices?
Effective 1 July 2026. Published network prices exclude GST. These are the network charges only. Your retailer adds its own prices and may package the structure differently.
Reviewed by Mike Anderson · Last verified 7 November 2026
Effective 1 July 2026. Published network prices exclude GST. These are network charges only; your retailer adds its own prices.
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