In early 2016 the Commission will consider whether or not there is a need to initiate a review of technical standards in the national electricity market.

“Technical standards” define the level of performance required of the equipment that makes up, or is connected to, the national electricity system.

The AEMC has engaged informally with a range of stakeholders to gauge whether issues have changed or new issues have arisen since a technical standards review was proposed in 2010 in the AEMC’s Review of the Effectiveness of NEM Security and Reliability Arrangements in light of Extreme Weather Events.

On 23 July 2015 the Coalition of Australian Governments Energy Council submitted a rule change request to implement recommendations from the AEMC’s 2013 Transmission Frameworks Review to improve the process for negotiating for connection services and the associated connection assets (the Transmission Connections and Planning Arrangements rule change request).

Some of the process and negotiation issues identified by stakeholders can be considered within scope of the Transmission Connections and Planning Arrangements rule change request. Those issues are discussed in the consultation paper for that rule change.

Due to the interactions between the two processes, in early 2016 consideration will be given to whether or not there is a need to commence the review of technical standards.