Rule Change: Open
Overview
On 5 December 2024, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) published a draft determination and a more preferable draft rule to improve the National Electricity Market (NEM) access standards in response to a rule change request from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
The NEM access standards define the permissible range of technical requirements that connection applicants need to meet before being allowed to connect to the NEM. The draft rule would improve the access standards by:
- adding more prescription and clarity, to help reduce costs and time spent in negotiations between connection applicants, network service providers and AEMO
- making them more fit for purpose in an increasingly inverter-based resources connected NEM
- broadening their application to synchronous condenser connections and all high voltage direct current (HVDC) links.
The amended access standards would improve power system resilience, streamline the connection process and support efficient investment in and operation of the NEM.
Next steps
Written submissions on the draft determination and rule closed on 30 January 2025. Due to the complexity of issues raised in submissions, the Commission has extended the timeline for preparing the final determination. The final determination and rule will now be published on 22 May 2025.
Background
On 4 April 2024, the AEMC received a rule change request from AEMO to improve the technical requirements for NEM connection (known as access standards) contained in Chapter 5 of the National Electricity Rules (NER) and its accompanying schedules. This rule change request is to give effect to AEMO’s final recommendations in its review of technical requirements for connection, which AEMO is required to conduct at least once every five years, pursuant to clause 5.2.6A. A copy of the rule change request is available below.
The AEMC initiated this rule change request on 14 November 2024 under the fast-track process. Since AEMO undertook extensive public consultation during its review, the AEMC considered this rule change request to meet the requirements under the National Electricity Law (NEL) section 96A for fast-track initiation. This process does not include the consultation paper stage and proceeds straight to draft determination.