OUR INSIGHTS
Methane emissions reduction – A report on international policy and technology insights for the Australian fossil fuel sector
Gas Statement of Opportunities 2022: The Uncertain Future of Natural Gas in our Market
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) recently published its annual Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO) for Australian jurisdictions other than Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This article summarises AEMO’s key messages and what they imply for the future of gas in our market.
Release of the AER’s Final Better Bills Guideline
The AER has released its final Better Bills Guideline released in December 2021. The final Guideline contains new requirements for the layout and mandatory inclusion of information on bills by retailers for customers using less than 100MWh per annum
DER Interoperability Standards
Regulators are only now grasping the full extent of the challenges and opportunities brought by the proliferation of DER, including the need for remote, dynamic device communication. Flowing on from this is the need for interoperability standards and a good governance model.
Final Determination on the Governance of DER Technical Standards
On 17 March 2022, the AEMC made its final determination on the Governance of Distributed Energy Resources Technical Standards. The Commission has decided not to make a rule, and instead rely on its existing powers and workplan to progress DER technical standards for the NEM.
Submissions to the AER’s Draft Better Bills Guideline
The AER has released details of the 26 submissions received on the Draft Better Bills Guideline released in December 2021. The Draft Guideline contains new requirements for the layout and mandatory inclusion information on bills by retailers for customers using less than 100MWh per annum.
Submissions Received to the 2022 Reliability Standards and Settings Review
We continue our coverage of the Reliability Panel four-yearly review of the reliability standard and settings. The Panel is considering whether the form and level of the standard and settings are appropriate for expected and evolving market conditions
AEMO Releases Draft Marginal Loss Factors for Financial Year 2022-23
AEMO has released its draft FY 2022-23 National Electricity Market (NEM) intra-regional loss factors, commonly referred to as marginal loss factors (MLFs). AEMO expects to publish a final report on 1 April 2022
2022 Reliability Standards and Settings Review
The Reliability Panel has kicked off its four-yearly review of the reliability standard and settings. The Panel will consider whether the form and level of the standard and settings are appropriate for expected and evolving market conditions.
AER Releases Draft Decision on 2022/23 Default Market Offer Prices
The AER has released its draft determination for retail electricity default market offer (DMO) prices to apply from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 (DMO 4). The DMO is the maximum price an electricity retailer can charge a standing offer customer each year.
Final Recommendations for the Victorian Embedded Networks Review
The review addressed a commitment to ban embedded networks in new apartment buildings, and enable customers living in existing embedded networks to have the same protections and opportunities as other consumers.
AER Releases Draft Export Tariff Guidelines
The AER has released draft Export Tariff Guidelines for consultation, which provide guidance about how distributors should define the basic export level for distributed energy resources (such as solar PV), and how they should develop and justify proposals for export pricing.
ESB initiates Capacity Mechanism design
The Energy Security Board’s (ESB) final advice on the Post 2025 Market Design Review proposed a reform pathway for resource adequacy, including recommendation of a mechanism to explicitly value capacity in the rapidly changing National Electricity Market (NEM) over coming years.
REZ Access Rights and Scheme Design: Central-West Orana
Released in December 2021, the consultation paper sets out, and seeks feedback on, key design aspects of the NSW Government’s work to coordinate and encourage investment in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) under its Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
Connections Reform Roadmap
The Connections Reform Roadmap was published in December 2021, as part of the Connections Reform Initiative jointly sponsored by AEMO and the CEC. The Roadmap outlines priority reforms, identified in collaboration with industry, needed to overcome the challenges in connecting generators to the grid.
AER releases Rate of Return Information Paper and calls for submissions
The Australian Energy Regulator released its 2022 Rate of Return Instrument Information Paper on 17 December 2021, which is the next step toward the final 2022 Instrument (due for publication in December 2022). It sets out six priority issues for further analysis and stakeholder feedback.