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Selection process for new Reliability Panel members launched today

29 July 2008

Reliability Panel Chairman and AEMC Commissioner, Mr Ian Woodward, today invited Registered Participants in the National Electricity Market (NEM) and consumer groups to nominate candidates for appointment to the Reliability Panel from 1 January 2009.

Many existing members of the current Reliability Panel have terms which conclude on 31 December 2008.

"The Reliability Panel is established by the AEMC under the National Electricity Law to monitor, review and report on the safety, security and reliability of the national electricity system in accordance with the market's Rules," Commissioner Woodward said.

"We rely on Panel members to provide expert advice to the Commission and in recent times they have been responsible for historic, market-shaping reviews for both the Commission and the Ministerial Council on Energy.

"The Panel's Comprehensive Review of Reliability, released in December 2007, was the first review of reliability since the NEM started in 1998. It contained extensive information on key high level NEM standards and parameters and was also a plan for action - containing recommendations on improvements to NEM reliability information; the form, level and scope of the Reliability Standard itself; the future of the Reliability Safety Net; medium term settings for VoLL; the Cumulative Price Threshold and Market Floor Price.

"I would like to thank current members of the Reliability Panel for their invaluable contributions and hope that organisations with a vital interest in the development of the NEM put forward their best candidates to continue this vital service in the best interests of electricity consumers," Commissioner Woodward said.

As required by the National Electricity Rules, the AEMC is seeking nominations to appoint at least five, but not more than eight persons as Members of the Panel to commence operations from 1 January 2009 for terms of up to three years. The National Electricity Rules also allow existing members of the Reliability Panel to be reappointed.

We are also calling on all interested parties to provide the AEMC with the contact details for an authorised person inside your organisation to work with the AEMC on the appointment and selection process, Commissioner Woodward said.

Panel members must include:

a person representing Generators;
a person representing Market Customers;
a person representing Transmission Network Service Providers;
a person representing Distribution Network Service Providers; and
a person representing the interests of end use customers for electricity

For information contact
AEMC Associate Senior Director, Rory Campbell (02) 8296 7800 or
AEMC Director, Julian Eggleston (02) 8296 7800

Resignation of Commissioner Liza Carver

20 June 2008

Commissioner Liza Carver has submitted her resignation from the office of Commissioner after a period of 3 years service on the AEMC. Her resignation will have effect from 18 September 2008 following a notice period of 3 months.

In announcing her resignation, AEMC Chairman Dr John Tamblyn expressed the AEMC’s appreciation and thanks to Liza for her work as a Commissioner in the following terms:

“Liza Carver has made an enormous contribution during the last 3 years to the establishment and development of the AEMC and to the important Rule change and energy market review work it has undertaken during that period.

Liza’s positive influence on the AEMC and its work has been made in many different ways through her extensive energy market and regulatory knowledge, her strong legal background, her intellectual and analytical rigour and her strong commitment to good public policy and regulatory practice.

In submitting her resignation, Liza has indicated how much she has valued the opportunity to serve on the Commission. She has also noted that as the AEMC is now well established as an organisation, her resignation after 3 years of service will provide a timely opportunity for renewal of the Commission for the next phase of its important work.

On behalf of Commissioner Ian Woodward and the managers and staff of the AEMC I want to express our appreciation and thanks to Liza for the important contribution she has made to our organisation’s development, to the quality of our work and to our personal knowledge and growth in this challenging field of policy and law.”

The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) has been advised of Commissioner Carver’s resignation through Minister Conlon, in his capacity as the responsible Minister under the Australian Energy Market Commission (Establishment) Act 2004, and Minister Ferguson, in his capacity as Chairman of the MCE.

The MCE will soon be commencing a process for selecting and appointing a Commissioner to replace Commissioner Carver.

Search underway for new Consumer Advocacy Panel Executive Director

08 May 2008

The Australian Energy Market Commission invites applications for Executive Director of the Consumer Advocacy Panel.

AEMC Chief Executive, Steven Graham, said today this position was being filled in anticipation of the commencement of the Consumer Advocacy Panel Amendment Act.

The Consumer Advocacy Panel grants funds for advocacy projects on behalf of consumers in the national electricity and natural gas markets and initiates research into issues of benefit to energy consumers. The Executive Director is responsible for the management of the Panel’s functions and for the provision of strategic and operational advice to the Panel.

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate capacity in strategic leadership, particularly the capacity to identify and provide advice on strategic issues, management skills in planning, organising, monitoring and evaluating projects; interpersonal skills to enable cooperative and open interaction with stakeholders, industry bodies and individuals; and the ability to understand and monitor the Panel’s finances and budgets. Candidates must have senior management experience in either public or private sectors. Experience in the energy industry or a similar project funding organisation, knowledge of consumer advocacy processes and an understanding of energy market reform policy would be an advantage.

The successful applicant will be employed by the Australian Energy Market Commission. The position will be located in Sydney.

The Consumer Advocacy Panel is currently constituted under the National Electricity Rules. On commencement of the Consumer Advocacy Panel Amendment Act the Panel will be constituted under the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004 (South Australia) but will remain independent of government and regulators.

The current incumbent will not be continuing in the role when it transfers from Melbourne to Sydney.

AEMC announces new-look publications

21 April 2008

Australian Energy Market Commission publications have changed in order to improve people's access to our information and to help make it easier to understand.

AEMC Chief Executive, Steven Graham, today said that Commission publications will be restructured and rewritten in plain language.

“All the critical information we are required to include in our reports and Rules will still be there but readers will notice a streamlined approach designed to highlight key recommendations, changes and supporting arguments,” Mr Graham said.

“All publications will show a consistent, easy to read, style and a three-part structure – a short summary, a concise report and appendices as required.

The new approach is being adopted for all new projects and Rule changes. Nearly complete projects, including draft determinations, will be finished in their existing format. An exception is the Congestion Management Review which will adopt the new style in its final publication.

“These changes are based on feedback from our readers and we will be reviewing the effectiveness of this new approach with stakeholders later in the year,” Mr Graham said.

“Since we started operations in 2005 the scale and complexity of AEMC reviews and Rule changes have increased dramatically. The decision to present published information differently is based on our aim to ensure greater clarity and transparency of our decision making,” he said.

For information contact
AEMC Chief Executive, Steven Graham, (02) 8296 7800
AEMC Communication Manager, Prue Anderson (02) 8296 7800 or 0404 821 935

Publication of AEMC Notices

08 February 2006

From Thursday 9 February 2006, the Australian Energy Market Commission will publish Notices relating to the National Electricity Market in the South Australian Government Gazette and the Thursday edition of The Australian newspaper.

For information contact
AEMC Public Affairs, Prue Anderson (02) 8296 7800 or 0404 821 935

Reliablity Panel Appointments

06 January 2006

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) today announced appointments to the Reliability Panel which is established by the Commission to provide it with advice on the safety, security and reliability of the national electricity system.

Chairman of the Reliability Panel and AEMC Commissioner, Ian Woodward, welcomed new and returning members to the Panel who are involved in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retailing as well as customer representatives.

“A healthy, reliable national electricity system is of critical importance to all Australians and the members of this Panel provide the Commission with expert views on the safe, secure and reliable operation of the national electricity power system,” Mr Woodward said.

The new Reliability Panel consists of the following members. With the exception of Ian Woodward, Chairman, and Les Hosking, NEMMCO’s representative, members will serve a two year term from 1 January 2006.

Ian Woodward, Chairman and AEMC Commissioner Jeff Dimery, General Manager Victoria, AGL Mark Grenning, General Manager Energy, Comalco Aluminium Les Hosking, Managing Director and CEO, NEMMCO Gordon Jardine, Chief Executive, Powerlink George Maltabarow, Managing Director, EnergyAustralia Stephen Orr, Commercial Director, International Power Australia Jim Wellsmore, Senior Policy Officer, Public Interest Advocacy Centre Geoff Willis, CEO, HydroTasmania.

For information contact
AEMC Public Affairs, Prue Anderson (02) 8296 7800 or 0404 821 935

AEMC Chief Executive Officer Appointed

22 December 2005

Chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission, John Tamblyn, today announced that Steven Graham, currently with RailCorp, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer of the AEMC with effect from 16 January 2006

“Steven has broad commercial and organisational management experience in the energy and transport industries, including a strong background in change management and the establishment of new organisations in regulated market environments,” Dr Tamblyn said.

“Steven is joining us at an important stage of the AEMC establishment phase and is very well equipped to play a leadership role as CEO in the continuing development of the AEMC’s capacity to perform its energy market functions of Rule making and market development.”

Most recently, Steven has had responsibility for managing the integration of assets and staff of the merged entities forming RailCorp. Previously he held senior commercial and corporate management positions at Eraring Energy and Pacific Power, including key roles in the restructure of Pacific Power and the establishment of Eraring Energy as a going concern.

For information contact
AEMC Public Affairs, Prue Anderson (02) 8296 7800 or 0404 821 935

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