Recognising that generators prepare and respond to challenges all year round, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published a National Electricity Market (NEM) Readiness Guide and checklist to replace its previous Summer Readiness Compliance Bulletin.
The guide outlines the AER’s expectations for complying with critical obligations under the National Electricity Rules, while the checklist sets out tasks that may assist market participants to achieve compliance throughout the year.
In conjunction with this release, we ask market participants to review the following:
Are your key contacts up-to-date?
Market participants need to check the contact details for those nominated to receive operational instructions from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and provide any new or updated contacts to AEMO.
Fuel limits
We also ask market participants to pay extra attention to fuel supply and planning, and report any limits to AEMO as soon as they become apparent. Guidance is provided on factors to consider when submitting Availability and Energy Limits for the purposes of Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA).
Other critical information includes:
- AER expectations for participant obligations relating to late rebidding behaviour and record keeping practices;
- examples of good industry practice regarding training and internal processes for trading and operational staff;
- for the purposes of reporting power system risks, recommendations on how participants should maintain up-to-date procedures and communication protocols to identify and communicate plant or equipment issues that have occurred or are likely to occur; and
- a reminder for participants to rectify their GPS related non‑compliance in a timely manner and in accordance with the rectification periods notified by AEMO.
The AER expects participants to understand their obligations under the Electricity Rules and ensure they have robust systems, processes and personnel in place to achieve compliance.
Market participants are urged to use the guide and checklist to assist in this process.