AEMO review of technical requirements for connection (NER clause 5.2.6A)

Update Report and draft NER amendments

PART 1 – generator and HVDC link connections

AEMO  published Part 1 of its Draft Recommendations Update Report (Update Report) on 26 July 2023.

The Update Report presents AEMO’s consideration of stakeholder views and revised recommendations for amendments to the NER Schedule 5.2 and Schedule 5.3a technical requirements for connection in the NEM. It also makes further recommendations for structural changes and consequential amendments to the NER to improve the clarity of the technical requirements and their application to relevant plant and participants, and provides indicative draft NER amendments for stakeholder consideration. AEMO considers these will be necessary to effectively implement the primary recommendations arising from the Review.

The Update Report is supported by two key appendices which provide important detail for stakeholders:

• Stakeholder consultation analysis and revised recommendations – this analysis summarises stakeholder feedback received for each draft report recommendation, analyses feedback received, and sets out reasons for AEMO’s decision to either revise or retain draft report recommendations.

• NER amendments – initial proposed drafting of NER changes that could give effect to the revised recommendations, provided in mark-up form.

The key objective of publishing the Update Report is to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to review AEMO’s revised recommendations to account for stakeholder feedback on the draft report, as well as further issues arising in the process of AEMO’s development of potential amendments. AEMO is also providing an initial draft of potential NER amendments to give effect to the revised recommendations, for further feedback prior to AEMO publishing its final report under the Review.

Additional workshops on large load connections are being held at the end of August 2023. AEMO will subsequently advise next steps in the review of load standards.

Final Report

The next and final stage of this Review requires AEMO to publish a its final recommendations for amendments to the technical requirements set out in Schedules 5.2, 5.3 and 5.3a. In this final report, AEMO will also include recommended NER amendments where possible. The final report will have regard to submissions made in response to its Draft Report and Update Reports. The Final Report will be published in November 2023.

Engagement

Engagement on Update Report (Part 1)

AEMO facilitated a public webinar forum on Wednesday 9 August 2023 to discuss the recommendations set out in its Update Report (Part 1).

The webinar provided:

• Current status of the Review
• An overview of revised recommendations of the Update Report (Part 1)
• The opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions or issues regarding the revised recommendations.

The presentation slides are available for those who were unable to attend but interested in learning about the Review and its revised recommendations.

Submissions

In response to the Update Report (Part 1), AEMO received 23 submissions.

In response to the Draft Report and addendum, AEMO received:

• 18 submissions on the technical requirements and recommendations in the primary draft report (relating to Schedules 5.2 and 5.3a
• 11 submissions on the technical requirements and recommendations in the addendum to the draft report (relating to Schedule 5.3).

See below to access submission made.

Next steps

Through the next stage of this Review, AEMO will finalise its recommendations based on stakeholder feedback to the Update Reports, and will develop draft NER amendments where possible. The outcomes of this consultation will be incorporated into the final report under this Review.

Documents