For property developers, an Embedded Network is no longer just an electricity distribution decision. It is a decision about the building's operating model, its energy future and its long-term asset value.Get it right at design stage and the Embedded Network becomes the platform for solar PV, battery storage, EV charging and eventually a Microgrid, along with a defensible commercial position for the Owners' Corporation.
At ENM Solutions, we conceptualise, design, implement and manage Embedded Networks and Microgrids across the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Embedded networks are commonly implemented across:
Within these developments, electricity is typically purchased through a central connection before being distributed internally throughout the property.
This structure can support more coordinated energy management, streamlined infrastructure oversight and improved operational visibility compared to individually connected lots or tenancies.
For larger multi-tenant developments, this centralised approach may also assist with long-term infrastructure planning and more consistent management of electricity usage across the site.
The long-term operational performance of an embedded network is heavily influenced by decisions made during the planning and design stage.
ENM Solutions treats the Embedded Network as the preliminary phase of a Microgrid. That framing matters at design stage because it changes what "future-ready" actually means.
A Microgrid incorporates everything in the Embedded Network, plus:
When these elements are aligned correctly from the beginning, the embedded network is generally easier to manage and better positioned to support long-term operational flexibility.
From 1 November 2026, Small Resource Aggregators (SRA), Consumer Energy Resources (CER) providers and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) operators will be able to participate in the market without converting a site to an Embedded Network. Secondary Settlement Points (SSPs) and the new NMI Service Provider (NMISP) role, introduced under the AEMC's Unlocking CER benefits through flexible trading rule change, create a standardised way to separately identify and settle flexible resources such as batteries, EV chargers and controllable loads behind a customer's primary connection.
For developers, this changes the calculus on new sites. Some multi-tenant buildings that would have defaulted to an Embedded Network in 2020 may be better served by a different structure in 2027. Others will still be better off with an Embedded Network, particularly where the surplus, on-selling scope and Microgrid pathway justify it. Either way, this is a design-stage decision, not a post-handover one.
ENM Solutions is an independent specialist in Embedded Networks and an AEMO-accredited Embedded Network Manager. We do not provide billing or retail services, which means our advice at the design stage does not compete with your future Retailer or ENO arrangements.
For developers, our work typically covers feasibility and business case, exemption compliance, metering and network design, Individual Exemption applications where required, Informed Consent processes for brownfield retrofits, the ENM appointment, and the transition plan into Microgrid capability including solar, BESS and EV charging.
If you have a project moving through design, or a site nearing practical completion, our team can review the Embedded Network position and flag anything worth resolving before handover.
Should every new multi-tenant development have an Embedded Network?No. An Embedded Network suits sites where the on-sold utility volume, surplus opportunity and Microgrid pathway justify the ongoing compliance cost. A feasibility assessment at design stage is the right way to decide.
Do the AER's Version 7 changes affect a network being designed now?Yes. The ND1 and ND2 deemed exemption classes have closed to new networks, so any new site needs a registrable exemption.
How does an Embedded Network handle solar, batteries and EV charging?The single Parent connection and shared distribution make it easier to install and share generation and storage across occupants. Load management and metering needs to be designed for it.
Will SSPs and the NMISP role replace Embedded Networks?Not in most cases. They add another structure that may suit some multi-tenant sites better than an Embedded Network. The right answer depends on site type, occupant mix and the Owners' Corporation's objectives.
For more information, get in touch with our team today!
