On 4 December 2008, the Commission gave notice under sections 102 and 103 of the National Electricity Law (NEL) making the National Electricity Amendment (Registration changes for Traders, Reallocators, and Transfer of Registration) Rule 2008 No.15 and the corresponding Rule determination.

Background

On 16 September 2008, the AEMC received a Rule change proposal from NEMMCO requesting the Commission consider amending sections of Chapter 2 (Registered Participants and Registration) of the Rules. NEMMCO has requested that the Commission expedite this Rule change proposal on the grounds that it is non-controversial. Specifically the Rule change proposal seeks to incorporate the following amendments to Chapter 2 and would provide for:

• explicit eligibility requirements for applicants for the Trader and Reallocator categories of Registered Participant in the National Electricity Market (NEM); and
• the development of a transfer of registration process which allows existing registered facilities to be transferred to a person seeking registration for those facilities, where those facilities are not being physically altered.

On 2 October 2008, the Commission published a notice under sections 95 and 96 of the National Electricity Law (NEL) commencing initial consultation on this Rule change proposal and advising of its intention to expedite the Rule making process on the grounds that it is non-controversial, subject to written submissions. Written objections to the expedited Rule making process closed on 17 October 2008, of which there were none and general submissions closed on 31 October 2008.

On 13 November 2008, the Commission gave notice under section 107 of the National Electricity Law (NEL) delaying publication of the final Rule determination and final Rule as a late submission was received that required an extension to allow for appropriate consideration.

On 4 December 2008, the Commission gave notice under sections 102 and 103 of the National Electricity Law (NEL) making the National Electricity Amendment (Registration changes for Traders, Reallocators, and Transfer of Registration) Rule 2008 No.15 and the corresponding Rule determination. This Rule was made under an expedited process in accordance with section 96 of the NEL.

The Rule change addresses the following:

• the inclusion of clauses to 2.5A, which will add additional eligibility requirements for Traders;
• the inclusion of clauses to 2.5B, which will add additional eligibility requirements for Reallocators; and
• the inclusion of a new rule 2.9A, which will provide for a process to allow transfer of registration.

The Rule commenced operation on 1 January 2009.