The AEMC has published discussion notes from the first meeting of the technical working group which is helping to inform the AEMC’s coordination of generation and transmission investment – access and charging review. This project is looking at reforms to transmission access and charging to help address an increasingly congested grid at the lowest cost. 

Members of the group included experts from consumer groups, energy investors, large consumers, generators, transmission businesses, retailers, the Energy Security Board and market bodies. 

At the meeting on 28 May 2019 the group discussed a range of issues including:

  • the AEMC’s approach to the review, with this being informed by stakeholder feedback to the consultation paper as well as interactions with other reforms on foot such as:
  • changes and emerging trends in the national electricity market during recent years, particularly since 2015 when the AEMC concluded its last review into access. Trends mentioned included increasing transmission congestion, the growing importance of system strength, the reduction in technology costs such as solar PV and battery storage, and the process underway to action the Integrated System Plan. 
  • the AEMC’s proposed market design principles for this review, as well as several different possible access reform models.
  • ways to facilitate generators coordinating with each other in order to unlock renewable energy zones. 
  • prioritisation of key design issues for the dynamic regional pricing model, with the key issues to be discussed in more detail at the next technical working group.

This review is being progressed as part of a comprehensive reform package recommended by the inaugural Coordination of generation and transmission investment (COGATI) review to better coordinate investment in renewable generation and transmission infrastructure, facilitating transmission and generation in the right place, at the right time at an efficient cost.  

A directions paper is due to be published on 27 June 2019.

Media: Prudence Anderson, Communication Director, 0404 821 935 or DL (02) 8296 7817.