On 18 June 2015, the Reliability Panel (Panel) published its final report for the template for generator compliance programs review 2015. The final report details amendments the Panel has made to the template for generator compliance programs (template). The National Electricity Rules (Rules) require registered participants to modify their performance standards compliance programs to be consistent with the amended template within six months of it being published by the Panel.

The template

The template is designed to assist registered participants who own or operate plant to which performance standards apply, generally generators, with developing and designing their compliance programs to meet the relevant performance standard. It is also intended to assist the Australian Energy Regulator with the enforcement and monitoring of the generators' compliance with the technical requirements under the Rules. Effective compliance with performance standards contributes to the delivery of reliable and secure electricity to customers in the National Electricity Market.

Final report and recommendations

The Panel’s final report details amendments the Panel has made to the template to improve its clarity and to reflect changes in generation technology, new monitoring techniques and changes in plant operational modes.

The Panel's final recommendations for the template are as follows:

• update the introductory text;
• include a general overview of the compliance framework;
• clarify that the testing and monitoring requirements for older generators as specified in their connection agreements, in some cases, may be based on the need to maintain compliance with older versions of the Rules or National Electricity Code that applied at the time when such connection agreements were established;
• include information on continuous plant monitoring;
• include general information on dry stored generators;
• make provision in Table 1 of the template for large scale solar generation; and
• make provision in Table 1 of the template for testing to be carried out following a 'plant change'.

Also, arising from this review, the Panel has decided to submit a rule change request to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) proposing to amend the Rules in order to extend the review frequency period from “at least three years” to “at least five years”.

About this review

The Rules require the Panel to determine, modify as necessary, and publish the template. Under the Rules, the Panel must review the template at least every three years, and at such other times as the AEMC may request.

On 15 September 2014, the AEMC provided the Panel with the standing terms of reference for this review, which required the Panel to consult with stakeholders and complete the review by 31 July 2015.

The Panel invited stakeholder submissions on an issues paper which was published on 13 November 2014. Four submissions were received. The Panel also facilitated a stakeholder workshop on 18 February 2015, which enabled discussion on issues raised in the issues paper and in submissions.

On 26 March 2015, the Panel published its draft report for this review. The draft report contained draft recommendations to amend the template. Stakeholders were invited to make submissions on the draft report by 7 May 2015. Four submissions were received from stakeholders.