The Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO) is designed to support reliability in the National Electricity Market (NEM). In particular it encourages retailers, and some large energy users, to establish contracts for their share of demand for a prescribed period. The RRO can be triggered if the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) identifies a reliability gap in a region of the NEM as part of its Electricity Statement of Opportunities. The South Australia Minister also has the power to do this (under NEL Part 7A 19B (1)) if it appears to the Minister on reasonable grounds that there is real risk that the supply of electricity in all or part of South Australia may be disrupted to a significant degree on 1 or more occasions during a period in the instrument.
On 5 January 2023, the South Australia Minister for Energy and Mining triggered the RRO in South Australia for the first quarter of 2026.
Notification of closed T-3 Reliability gap
On 29 August 2024, AEMO notified the AER that the South Australia 12 January 2026 – 13 March 2026 reliability gap in no longer forecast. As a result the reliability gap is now closed.