On 30 August 2011 the Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER) directed the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to undertake a review of distribution reliability outcomes and standards. The review had two separate workstreams:
- a review of the distribution reliability outcomes in NSW (the NSW workstream); and
- a review of the frameworks across the NEM for expressing, delivering and reporting on distribution reliability outcomes (the national worksteam).
NSW workstream - Issues paper
The objective of the NSW workstream was to provide advice on the costs and benefits of alternatives for the future level of distribution reliability in NSW. The level of distribution reliability which is provided affects the reliability of customers’ electricity supply, as well as the level of investment distribution businesses need to undertake and the prices paid by customers for distribution services.
On 1 December 2011 we made a submission in response to the AEMC NSW workstream Issues paper released on 3 November 2011.
NSW workstream - Draft report
On 29 June 2012 we made a supportive submission on the AEMC’s draft report. The submission also highlighted issues to be raised in the national workstream of this report.
National workstream - Issues paper
The objective of the national workstream was to analyse the different approaches to setting distribution reliability outcomes across the NEM. We will then consider if there is merit in developing a nationally consistent framework for expressing, delivering, and reporting on distribution reliability outcomes.
On 13 August 2012 we made a submission to the AEMC’s issues paper released on 28 June 2012. The submission focused on the expected effect of a consistent national framework for distribution reliability standards on the economic regulation process.