Embedded networks a powerful tool for commercial precincts
31 Jul 2025
Embedded networks enable property owners to centralise the management of electricity and other utilities within a private, or ‘gated’ system.
Common across shopping centres, industrial estates, mixed-use precincts, high-rise residential apartments and retirement villages, they provide a range of benefits and create a foundation for future-ready infrastructure.
What is an embedded network?
An embedded network is a private utility system contained within a larger site. For example, within a shopping centre development, rather than every business or tenancy establishing a direct connection with the electricity grid, a single connection point (commonly referred to as the ‘gate meter’) feeds the entire site. This parent connection (commonly the building owner) purchases bulk electricity from their preferred energy retailer and on sells electricity to the customers within the site’s embedded network, through a network of private infrastructure to each tenant.
The operator of the embedded network manages the internal distribution, sub-metering, billing and regulatory compliance.
Benefits of embedded networks
For commercial landlords and asset managers, embedded networks provide strategic advantages.
– Renewable electricity generation provides a competitive advantage: When negotiating with potential tenants, the building owner can offer cheaper and cleaner electricity. This is a major advantage in large scale projects, such as shopping centres and high-rise residential apartments.
– Built-in flexibility: Makes it easier to integrate shared services such as solar PV systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery energy storage systems or chilled water systems.
– Data insights and analytics: Utilising a service like Yurika’s InfoDynamics platform can help you gain insights to inform decisions regarding your electricity, gas, and water consumption.
– Smart development planning: Infrastructure can be designed and installed upfront to suit the long-term operational strategy of the development.
An embedded network is more than just a billing mechanism. With the right design and partner, an embedded network can be a platform for scalable, integrated precinct services.
It can be complex to navigate and design in a space that is highly regulated by the National Electricity Rules (NER) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), but we can provide a vast range of metering services to help.
It is also important for the end users, like tenants or residents, to understand their rights and responsibilities and enter into contracts and agreements fully informed.
Use cases in business and industry
Embedded networks are widely used in:
– Retail precincts and shopping centres: to manage shared services like electricity, security, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, water, gas and more.
– Industrial estates: enabling greater control over load management, particularly in energy intensive tenants.
– Gated communities like retirement villages and caravan parks: Offering a single point of supply for electricity, gas, and water and the integration of shared renewable generation such as solar PV.
– Mixed use and residential apartment buildings: where embedded energy, water and gas can support body corporate operations, the integration of shared renewable generation or electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Regulatory and operational considerations
Embedded networks are a highly regulated space that can be complex to navigate. Operators need to comply with the NER, AER, and local jurisdictional rules. Since 2017, the AER has required many embedded networks to appoint an Embedded Network Manager (ENM) to help facilitate customer choice and compliance with the various rules and laws.
Leveraging our long history in meter provisioning to commercial and industrial businesses, electricity retailers, and distribution network customers, we proudly became the primary provider of MC services to many retailers, residential and business in 2017 as part of Power of Choice reforms. Since then, we’ve grown exponentially and continue to successfully deliver a pipeline of large-scale digital meter rollout programs, energising thousands of NEM metering points every year.
We are an Australian Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) accredited Metering Coordinator (MC), Meter Provider (MP), and Meter Data Provider (MDP) for Type 1 – 4 metering services.
Do you need an Embedded Network Manager (ENM)?
We can perform the roles of Embedded Network Manager (ENM), (in some jurisdictions) the embedded network operator (ENO), and all roles associated with the NEM to ensure your energy network is pattern approved and compliant.
The AER provides a helpful decision tree tool to work out whether your embedded networks require an ENM.
Reach out to our team to learn more about how Yurika can help make the most of your embedded network.
