The Australian Energy Market Commission has extended the time to make a draft decision on proposals to improve how certain small generators are treated in the national electricity market. 

The AEMC is investigating two rule changes on how generators above 5MW capacity should be registered and classified in the NEM. The request from the Australian Energy Council seeks to increase the participation of smaller generators in the central process for dispatching electricity. The request from Mr Damien Vermeer seeks to minimise uncertainty about the process for registering and connecting embedded generators (embedded generators are connected to the poles and wires rather than the long-distance, high-voltage transmission grid). 

Both rule changes seek to amend the National Electricity Rules to address concerns about generator registration and classification. Our 8 October consultation paper combined the two rule change requests to streamline the consultation process. The AEMC has now consolidated the two requests into the Generator registrations and connections rule change for the draft and final determinations. 

Stakeholders raised many complex issues in response to the consultation paper. To allow us time to assess these and align with the Energy Security Board’s post 2025 work, the AEMC has extended the time to make a draft rule determination. We will now publish the draft determination on 24 June 2021.

Media: Kellie Bisset, Media and Content Manager, 0438 490 041