Authorities are moving to gain more control over rooftop solar panels amid a ballooning number of installations that are threatening to overload the grid at certain times.

From 14 February, Western Australian authorities will have the power to switch off rooftop solar panels when the grid is under stress. These new regulations will only apply to new and upgraded solar panels, existing systems won’t be affected.

This makes WA the second state, next to South Australia, to introduce these powers. Both states will be able to turn off household solar power systems at times when the electricity network is deemed to be under severe stress.

WA energy minister Bill Johnston says the new rules amounted to taking a “scalpel rather than a shotgun” to the challenges posed by surging solar output.

Under the regulations, customers installing new or upgraded solar panels will be required to have inverters that allow authorities to switch off production in emergency situations.

The minister adds that such circumstances would only occur a few times a year and would typically last for only a few hours.