NEM External Identity and Access Management
Background
The NEM External Identity and Access Management, known as NEIDAM, introduces a more secure, consistent and streamlined way for organisations, users and authorised third parties to access AEMO market systems and services.
Industry organisations and their representatives rely on access to AEMO systems to undertake market, operational and compliance activities. These access arrangements currently operate across multiple services and processes. NEIDAM will provide a unified approach for identifying users, authentication access and managing permissions across relevant AEMO market services.
NEIDAM forms a part of AEMO's Market Interface Technology Enhancements or MITE, together with Industry Data Exchange and Portal Consolidation. These initiatives are intended to modernise the foundational technology used by AEMO and industry and support the effective implementation of future energy market reforms.
NEIDAM is intended to provide:
- Simpler and more consistent access management, reducing duplicated processes and administrative effort
- Greater organisation level oversight, giving organisations clearer visibility and control over their users, roles and access
- Improved self service, enabling users and administrators to manage more of their own settings, access and permissions
- Stronger security controls, including improved authentication and clearer access management arrangements
- More secure data sharing arrangements, allowing authorised third parties to access participant information through their own approved access arrangements rather than through shared credentials.
NEIDAM was previously referred to as Identity and Access Management (IDAM). The name was updated to NEIDAM in 2026 to make clear that the initiative relates to external access arrangements for organisations and users operating in the National Electricity Market.
Scope
NEIDAM will introduce a unified identity and access management framework for relevant external organisations and users accessing AEMO market systems and services.
The initiative includes capabilities to support:
- User identification and authentication
- Administration of organisations, users, roles and access
- Identity and access lifecycle management
- Organisation level oversight of users and permissions
- Multi-factor authentication
- Identity federation
- Self-service access management capabilities
- Role based access
- Management of service accounts
- Improved auditing and reporting
- More secure sharing of participant information with authorised third parties.
NEIDAM will introduce the concept of a System Access Organisation, providing an organisation level structure for managing access to AEMO market services. Each System Access Organisation will have one or more Organisation Administrators responsible for overseeing relevant users, administrators, roles and access arrangements.
NEIDAM is expected to affect organisations that access relevant AEMO systems and services, including:
- NEM Registered participants
- Gas participants accessing electricity market systems *
- Authorised Service Providers and other authorised recipients
- NEM Accredited organisations
- Gas Supply Hub participants *
- Relevant non-registered organisations with approved access.
*This refers to gas participants accessing common electricity market systems (e.g. MarketsPortal, API and FTP) functionality used by participant for Gas Supply Hub (GSH), Pipeline Capacity Trading (PCT), Day Ahead Auction (DAA) and Gas Bulletin Board (GBB). Other gas market systems, including the Declared Wholesale Gas Market (DWGM) and Short-Term Trading Market (STTM) and Gas Retail Markets, are not impacted beyond service host on MarketsPortal.
Initial Implementation Update
NEIDAM was developed through the NEM Reform Foundational and Strategic Initiatives or FaSI process.
Beginning in 2023, AEMO worked with industry through the FaSI Focus Group to examine the existing challenges associated with identity and access management, industry data exchange and participant portals. This work brought together initiatives now known as NEIDAM, IDX and Portal Consolidation.
For NEIDAM, the business case supports the transition towards a unified approach to external identity and access management, with improved security, scalability, self-service, auditing, reporting and user experience.
Timeline
| Timing | Element | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | FaSI Industry Consultation | AEMO commenced consultation with industry through the FaSI Focus Group to identify industry pain points and develop potential future state solutions for identity and access management, industry data exchange and participant portals. |
| 28 March 2024 | FaSI Business Case endorsed | The business case covering Identity and Access Management, Industry Data Exchange and Portal Consolidation was endorsed through the NEM Reform Executive Forum. |
| 31 July 2026 | Initial technical specification published | AEMO published the initial NEIDAM technical specification to support participant planning and assessment of potential impacts. |
| August 2026 onwards | Procedure Consultation and industry readiness | Consultation commenced on the Procedure for Accessing AEMO Systems, alongside ongoing industry engagement and readiness activities. |
| October 2026 – February 2027 | Organisational Readiness Activities commence | AEMO to progressively engage impacted organisations to confirm System Access Organisation arrangement, Organisation Administrators, Service Accounts and other information required to support NEIDAM activities. |
| March – April 2027 | Market Trial | Participants will have an opportunity to validate NEIDAM capabilities and prepare their organisation for the transition, including administrators and user registration migration pathways and critical integrations. |
| 2 May 2027 | NEIDAM Go Live and Cutover | AEMO will transition the existing user database to the new NEIDAM authentication, authorisation and user lifecycle services. |
| July 2027 – May 2028 | Industry Migration | Organisations will progressively migrate users from existing access arrangements to their selected NEIDAM migration approach. All organisations must complete migration by May 2028. |
Procedure Changes
Certain procedures, guidelines and other documents maintained by AEMO require updating to facilitate implementation of the NEIDAM initiative.
For further details regarding the affected documents, please consult the most recent consultations by reviewing the links below.
Procedure for Accessing AEMO Systems
NEIDAM Participant Toolbox
The NEIDAM Participant Toolbox is the central location for practical information, guidance and resources to help organisations prepare for NEIDAM.
The toolbox provides guidance on:
- Preparing your organisation and completing required activities
- Understanding System Access Organisation and administrator arrangements
- Key dates, Market Trial, Go-live and preparation activities
- Industry migration approaches and preparation
- Specifications, templates, user guides, FAQs and support.
Content will be added progressively as activities are confirmed and new guidance becomes available. Organisations should continue to monitor the toolbox for actions, supporting materials and updates.
Information will be added progressively as activities are confirmed and new guidance becomes available. Organisations should continue to monitor this page for actions, supporting materials and updates.
Implementation Toolbox
The Implementation Toolbox is a central location for useful resources to help participants understand and prepare for the changes associated with the rule implementation.
Readiness artefacts
Industry Testing artefacts
Frequently Asked Questions
Further information
The primary channel for direct stakeholder email communications and procedure consultations for NEIDAM is the monitored, dedicated mailbox [email protected].
General queries in relation to the NEM Reform Program are welcome to [email protected].