Governance
Well structured and transparent governance arrangements are really important as you reach the implementation stage. Irreversible decisions will need to be made, sometimes rapidly in response to unforeseen changes or problems. This will be the stage where your model is really tested, including whether you and your partners are all on the same page.
Don’t be tempted to feel that once the battery is on the ground, your job is done. Critical to the success of your project is ongoing management and governance for the life of the project. After the launch is when you may lose social interest and energy, so you need to have a plan for maintaining governance and communications. Given rapid change in the electricity system, there will continue to be changes and decisions for the project, and you need structures for decision-making that maintain your accountability, to funders, partners and community.
At a minimum, you will need:
- an executive group for ongoing management and administration
- an ongoing capability to connect with the community including mechanisms to keep people informed and to listen to concerns and suggestions
- an oversight group (Board/advisory group) for decisions about changes to battery operation and responding to changed circumstances
Approvals
The two main approvals you will be required to secure include Planning and Safety. More detailed information can be found on the Site page.
Contracts
- organisational governance requirements, financial licenses etc.
- connection agreement with DNSP (needs to be in train early in the project)
- funding agreements
- contractual agreement re services and revenue stream (retailer/aggregator), others may be necessary if you introduce new revenue streams later (you’ll continue to need access to legal advice)
- contracts for ongoing inspection, maintenance and repair of battery
- arrangements for ongoing maintenance of site