On 17 May 2023, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) received a rule change request from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to amend the National Electricity Rules (NER).  

The CEC’s rule change request recommends changes:  

• to provide generation applicants more certainty on the way the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Network Service Providers (NSPs) assess and approve a generator’s detailed design and R1 modelling packages 
• to enable more efficient allocation of risks and costs between NSPs and generators to manage system security risks identified at the R1 stage 
• to incentivise investment in more scale and scope efficient system security solutions by NSPs, in response to issues identified at the R1 stage, where that would lead to lower costs than individual actions by generators, and
• to ensure that there are robust dispute resolution or facilitated review processes to manage intractable issues that emerge between generators, NSPs and AEMO.  

The CEC’s rule change request is the culmination of a large collaborative effort by a group of stakeholders comprising NSPs, generation project proponents, and AEMO as part of the Connections Reform Initiative (CRI).  

The AEMC has now initiated this rule change request by publishing a consultation paper. Over the next six weeks, we are seeking your input on:  

• the problems with the way generators’ registration applications are currently assessed,  
• the magnitude of the problem, including the effect on financing, and the efficient completion and staging of generation projects, and  
• whether the CEC’s proposed changes will address these problems and whether there are alternative solutions that would better address these issues. 

Submissions close on 28 September 2023.