National Smart Metering Program
NSMP Project Summary (July 2008 – December 2010)
Background
In June 2008 the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) confirmed the need to engage industry stakeholders to support the development of a consistent national framework for smart metering in the NEM. AEMO is managing secretariat and contractor arrangements to support this process. AEMO's support includes:
- the engagement and management of contractors (i.e. secretariat, program office and subject matter expert contractors) following approval by the National Stakeholder Steering Committee (NSSC) and ongoing procurement process administration
- membership of the NSSC and its working groups
- provision of the AEM website and NSSC portal, including publication to the sites
The key driver for the NSMP is from the MCE (MCE communiqué, 13 June 2008). AEMO has been identified as an impartial and professional party, with experience in providing program office, secretariat and contract management support to various industry programs – expertise ideally suited to support the NSMP.
Key Stakeholders
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Party
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Basis of interest
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MCE
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Oversight of the delivery of the work program within MCE's publicised timeframes and in accordance with the program objectives
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NSSC (and NSSC Working Groups)
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Requirement to develop recommendations to the MCE based on thorough investigation and/or consultation
Requirement for contracting arrangements (NSSC Chair, NSSC Secretariat and Subject Matter Experts) to be fair and transparent and in compliance with AEMO's procurement policy
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Market participants
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Requirement for an open and transparent program characterised by full communication of program activities
Require the opportunity to participate, through Working Groups and consultation processes, in the development of recommendations to the NSSC and/or MCE
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Contracting parties
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Requirement for procurement processes to be fair, objective and in compliance with AEMO's procurement policy
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The Victorian Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Program
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Requirement for communication between the two programs of work to ensure alignment of key deliverables
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Market institutions, including the Australian Energy Market Commission, the Australian Energy Regulator, jurisdictional regulators, the Information Exchange Committee (IEC), and the Retail Market Executive Committee (RMEC)
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Requirement for resultant Rules and/or Procedure changes are managed in accordance with relevant consultation and approval processes
Requirement for communication of program activities to ensure alignment/no conflicts with non-NSMP activities
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Interdependencies
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Interdependent projects
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Basis for interdependence
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Victorian Advanced Metering Infrastructure program
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The Victorian program was established, and significant work completed, prior to the establishment of the NSMP. Opportunities to leverage off Victorian work/learnings; requirement for the Victorian program to be compliant with the national framework being developed.
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IEC and RMEC work programs
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The committees' work programs, including B2B, MSATS and Metrology consultation processes, should reflect the need for involvement in the NSMP (e.g. IEC's role in approving any amendments to the B2B Procedures).
The committees also provide oversight to retail market programs and projects and make recommendations to AEMO on industry's capacity to undertake additional activities, and possible timeframes for projects, consultations, etc.
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Key deliverables and timelines
The NSMP Work Plan and monthly program status reports are published to the NSMP website.