On 28 January 2021 the Reliability Panel (Panel) published a final determination to amend the targets set out in the system restart standard (Standard) applying to AEMO’s procurement of system restart ancillary services (SRAS) in Queensland.  

On 29 October 2020 the Panel published a final determination to update the Standard’s qualitative guidance to account for changes made to the definition of SRAS in the Commission’s System restart services, standards and testing rule.

Final determination on Standard settings for a combined Queensland sub-network

On 28 January 2021, the Panel published a final determination on quantitative Standard settings for a Queensland sub-network (the NEM is divided into sub-networks for the purpose of AEMO's procurement of SRAS).  The Panel's final determination includes Standard settings for restoration level, restoration timeframe, and aggregate reliability for the Queensland sub-network on the NEM. The Panel also included a requirement for AEMO to procure SRAS north of Bundaberg as an additional locational element of its final determination.

The Panel’s final determination to amend Standard settings for Queensland follows AEMO’s decision on 16 October 2020, to combine the existing North and South Queensland sub-networks to form a single Queensland sub-network. The decision to combine the Queensland sub-networks was made in the final determination of AEMC's SRAS Guideline consultation. The Standard required updating as targets were formerly separately specified for the North and South Queensland sub-networks. 

The final determination and Standard follow the publication of a draft determination on Standard settings for a combined Queensland sub-network on 29 October 2020, which was open for stakeholder feedback. 

Interim Standard and final determination on amending the Standard to address changes made in the SRAS rule

On 29 October 2020, the Panel published a final determination on amendments to incorporate changes in the Commission’s SRAS rule.  This final determination amended language in the Standard’s qualitative guidance that was inappropriate for, or created barriers to, AEMO’s procurement of SRAS from restoration support services and/or black start SRAS from non-generation providers. 

An interim Standard was published with the final determination. The final determination on amending the Standard to address changes made in the SRAS rule
was published concurrently with the draft determination on Standard settings for a combined Queensland sub-network. 

Consultation paper

On 20 August 2020 the Panel published a consultation paper for the review. The consultation paper outlined the key issues and questions the Panel will consider when determining the Standard, as well as the proposed process and timeframes for the review. 

Scope of the review

On 24 June 2020 the AEMC issued terms of reference to the Panel to review the Standard.

The Standard specifies requirements applying to AEMO’s procurement of system restart ancillary services (SRAS) which are used to restart the power system in the event of a major supply disturbance or black system event.  

The scope of the review is to consider changes to the Standard to:

• account for changes made in the Commission’s SRAS rule to the types of services AEMO can procure as SRAS and  
• determine restoration timeframes, levels of restoration and aggregate reliability requirements for a single Queensland electrical sub-network in a final standard, should AEMO determine to combine the two existing Queensland sub-networks.