Sought to remove from the Rules most of the jurisdictional derogations on technical requirements which apply to some generating units in Queensland.

Background

On 5 August 2008, the Queensland Government lodged a Rule change proposal to delete from the Rules most of the generator technical performance jurisdictional derogations which apply to some generating units in Queensland (by means of Rule 9.37).

The Queensland Government’s Rule change proposal sought to ensure that these generating units comply with the (generally) more onerous technical requirements set out in clause S5.2.5 of the Rules rather than the (generally) less onerous technical requirements set out in the derogations. The proposal provided reasons why the technical requirements in the derogations should not apply to these generating units (with the exception of those derogations applying to the generating units at the Gladstone and Collinsville power stations) and proposed amendments to the derogations to implement this policy change.

The Rule change proposal also sought the removal of “Swanbank ’A’ Units 1 to 6” generating units from the derogations as these generating units have been decommissioned.

On 28 August 2008, the Commission published a notice under section 95 of the NEL advising of its intention to commence the Rule change process and initial consultation on this Rule change proposal. Submissions for initial consultation on the Rule change proposal closed on 26 September 2008.

On 16 October 2008, the Commission published a notice under section 99 of the NEL advising of the making of the draft Rule determination and draft Rule on the Queensland Government’s Rule change proposal. In the draft Rule determination, the Commission approved the Queensland Government’s Rule change proposal.

In accordance with section 101 of the NEL, any interested person or body may request that the AEMC hold a hearing in relation to the draft Rule and draft Rule Determination. There were no requests for a hearing which closed on 23 October 2008. Submissions on the draft Rule determination and draft Rule closed on 28 November 2008.

On 11 December 2008, the Commission published a notice under sections 102 and 103 of the National Electricity Law (NEL) of the making of the National Electricity Amendment (Queensland Generator Technical Performance Standards Derogations) Rule 2008 and related Rule determination. In this Rule determination, the Commission has approved the Queensland Government’s Rule change proposal and sets out the reasons for the Commission’s determination. The Rule commenced operation on 1 January 2009.