Phase 1 Workstream
In 2021, after more than seven months of collaboration, stakeholders identified more than 100 potential improvements to the connections experience.
These initiatives were assessed, refined and prioritised, resulting in 11 reforms that were recommended for detailed investigation or implementation.
The CRI Leadership Group endorsed these reforms and published the first Connections Reform Roadmap in December 2021.
Connections Reform Roadmap
Published in December 2021, Roadmap V1 established the initial reform program and identified priority initiatives to improve the connections process.
Published in June 2023, Roadmap V2 reflected the evolution of the initiative from reform design to implementation and delivery.
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Streamlined Connection Process
The Streamlined Connection Process (SCP) workstream was created to address the challenge industry faces in enabling a significant volume of new connections (as forecast by the Integrated System Plan). Under the guidance of the CRI, AEMO managed the review of the connection process and worked with industry to co-design several focus areas within the connections process.
The principles that underpinned the SCP included:
- a connections process that is consistent, predictable and improves investment certainty
- a process that is time-efficient and reduces costs, without compromising system security and operability
- fit-for-purpose scoping and assessment
- a collaborative approach between generators and developers, NSP and AEMO
- a collective commitment to problem-solving to facilitate outcomes.
The SCP was developed through several industry focus groups, project trials and industry-led initiatives, in addition to ongoing process improvement. The various inputs that were incorporated into the process are detailed below.
These ideas and opportunities were socialised across industry through various engagement channels and formed the foundation for the workstream's focus areas. The feedback received was incorporated into the draft SCP Process Map and informed the direction of the Pre-application, Commissioning and R1 Capability Assessment workstreams.
Outcomes delivered
The reforms identified through Phase 1 of the CRI have now been implemented, delivering improvements across policy, process, capability and collaboration.
Key outcomes include:
- introduction of Early Assessment Framework
- introduction of Pre-application Support Services
- introduction of a Commissioning framework, guideline and toolkit resources
- guidance on NER 5.3.4A: negotiating access standard principles
- publication of NER 5.3.9 guidance series and supporting scenario fact sheets
- changes to Schedule 5.2.5.5 Minimum Access Standards
- establishment of the Grid Connection Engineer Graduate Program
- initiation and implementation of the Investment Certainty for R1 rule change, including publication of the R1 capability assessment guideline.
To improve transparency and visibility of the connections pipeline AEMO now publishes regular updates through the Connections Scorecard.