The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has today made a suite of more preferable final rules that will strengthen AEMO's analysis that influences the Integrated System Plan (ISP).
AEMC Chair Anna Collyer said the rules expand how gas market information is considered and strengthen AEMO's analysis of demand-side factors in planning for the National Electricity Market's future.
"These rules will enhance how AEMO considers both gas market information and demand-side factors in its system planning.
"These reforms support more informed decision-making about the efficient development of the power system, providing more transparency about how AEMO considers both gas market developments and the growing role of consumer energy resources," Ms Collyer said.
Key elements of the final rules include:
- authorisation for AEMO to access and use information collected under the National Gas Rules for ISP modelling
- requirements to include gas development projections in the ISP
- introduction of a demand-side factors statement covering consumer energy resources, distributed resources, demand flexibility, electrification and energy efficiency
- obligations for distribution networks to provide information to AEMO, subject to new guidelines
- requirements for AEMO to publish this information in its ISP database unless commercially sensitive.
The rule changes respond to key recommendations from the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council's review of the ISP's scope and function and have taken on board feedback from a wide group of stakeholders.
The Commission determined that current rules already provide sufficient flexibility for AEMO to consider community sentiment in the ISP, including through existing joint planning arrangements with transmission networks.
The rules will take effect immediately. Under the demand-side factors rule, AEMO will have 12 months to develop information guidelines in consultation with stakeholders.
For more information on the Better integrating gas and community sentiment into the ISP rule change visit this project page.
For more information on the Improving consideration of demand-side factors in the ISP rule change, visit this project page.
Media: Jessica Rich, 0459 918 964, media@aemc.gov.au