The Reliability Panel’s annual market performance review provides observations and commentary on the security, reliability and safety of the national electricity market. It compiles information collected from a number of sources including the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Energy Regulator, jurisdictional regulators and market participants.

Among other things, the annual market performance review may assist governments, policy makers and market institutions to monitor the performance of the power system, and to identify the likely need for improvements to the various measures available for delivering security, reliability and safety. 

The Reliability Panel undertakes this review each year in accordance with the National Electricity Rules and terms of reference from the AEMC.

Summary of 2017 review

On 20 March 2018 the Panel published a final report of its annual market performance review for the period from July 2016 to June 2017.

Security

In 2016/17, the security performance of the national electricity market (NEM) has been mixed. 

• In 2016/17 there were 11 instances of the system being operated outside its secure limits for greater than 30 minutes. 
• The frequency operating standard was met in the mainland but it was not met in Tasmania for seven months of the 2016/17 financial year. 

Reliability

The Panel found that the NEM performed well in terms of reliability for the 2016/17 time frame. 
In 2016/17, at a wholesale level, 0.00036 per cent unserved energy from events defined as reliability events in the rules was recorded in South Australia. This is within the reliability standard (an expectation that no more than 0.002 per cent of demand for energy will be unmet). At a wholesale level, there was no other unserved energy recorded due to reliability events for any other region in the NEM. 

Safety

The Panel is not aware of any incidents where AEMO's management of power system security has resulted in a safety issue with respect to maintaining the system within relevant standards and technical limits.

Consultation

The publication of the final report followed public consultation on the approach and issues to be considered by the Panel during the review. One submission was received from the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, which can be found below. 

The Reliability Panel

The Reliability Panel's core functions relate to the security, reliability and safety of the national electricity system. The focus of the Panel's work is on determining standards and guidelines which are part of the framework for maintaining a secure and reliable power system. 

The panel is chaired by AEMC Commissioner, Dr Brian Spalding. Its members are broadly representative of all stakeholders interested in the operation of the power system and the electricity market including consumer groups, generators, network service providers, retailers and the power system and market operator, AEMO.