23 June 2022
If you are the owner and/or operator of a distribution and or transmission pipeline in a state which has recently undertaken augmentation, changed owner or operator, please notify the AEMC by emailing: pipeline.register@aemc.gov.au so that this can be reflected on the AEMC Pipeline Register webpage.
Media: media@aemc.gov.au
31 March 2022
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published a draft rule to open up the Victorian Declared Wholesale Gas Market (DWGM) to include distribution connected facilities that can supply natural gas, low-level hydrogen blended gas, biomethane and other renewable gases.
Currently, the Victorian DWGM only recognises transmission-connected facilities and does not allow market participation from entities connected to distribution pipelines.
This work addresses that by amending the National Gas rules (NGR) to also recognise facilities connected at the distribution level.
The changes will affect:
The rule change will ensure the current design of the Victorian gas market is maintained whilst clarifying the roles and responsibilities of all market participants.
AEMC Chair Anna Collyer said importantly, it will encourage technological innovation in an evolving market and regulatory environment as it seeks to promote safety, reliability and security of supply.
“These reforms will enable the proposed pilot projects to participate in the Victorian gas market, providing the foundation for innovation that will allow this industry to develop further,” Ms Collyer said.
“These draft rules along with the changes proposed through the national hydrogen strategy, complement the various decarbonisation initiatives from the Victorian Government and work to enable the development of the national hydrogen industry.”
This rule change was requested by the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio and works towards facilitating the Victorian Government work program, such as the Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan, Gas Substitution Roadmap, Towards 2050: Gas Infrastructure in a Zero Emissions Economy initiative and Climate Change Strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The AEMC is concurrently conducting a Review into extending the regulatory framework to hydrogen and renewable gases, also published today.
Submissions to the draft determination and draft rule are due by 19 May 2022.
Visit the project page for more information and contact details.
Media: Jessica Rich, 0459 918 964, media@aemc.gov.au
31 March 2022
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has taken the next critical step towards the development of a national hydrogen and renewable gases industry.
Today the AEMC released a draft report outlining what changes to the gas and energy retail rules are needed to include hydrogen and renewable gases into the Australian market.
The Commission’s draft recommendations provide an important development in setting up the national regulatory framework so low-level hydrogen blended gases and renewable gases can be safely supplied to existing distribution systems and appliances in homes and businesses.
AEMC Chair Anna Collyer said reforms in the regulatory framework will lay the foundations for the development of a decarbonised gas sector in Australia.
“Hydrogen is one of a handful of new, low carbon, zero-emissions fuels that can be used for heating and cooking in homes. Fuel cells can also power trucks, trains and cars,” Ms Collyer said.
“In the future, the hydrogen sector may grow to include power generation and some industrial processes. Electrolysers that create hydrogen may also provide beneficial services to the electricity market such as contributing to demand response and essential system services.
“These reforms are considered a priority under the Australian Government’s National Hydrogen Strategy and we need to make sure they’re delivered in an efficient, safe, and secure way that’s also in the best interests of consumers.”
The Commission’s work not only offers certainty to market participants and investors but provides clarity around access to pipelines, as well as supporting well informed decision making by market participants and consumers. The Commission’s draft recommendations also aim to enable the safe supply of low-level blended gases and consumer protections including billing and pricing.
Finally, the Commission’s draft recommendations allow for a framework where participants can continue to innovate within a competitive environment.
A stakeholder forum will be held by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on 1 April 2022. AEMC staff will present an overview of this report at the forum.
Submissions to the draft report are open until Thursday 19 May 2022.
Jurisdictional officials and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) are undertaking related and concurrent work looking at the gas and energy retail laws and procedures.
The Commission’s review is being undertaken concurrently with consultation on a rule change request to include distribution connected facilities in the Victorian Declared Wholesale Gas Market (DWGM). A draft determination on this rule change request was also published today.
Visit the hydrogen review project page for more information and contact details.
Media: Jessica Rich, 0459 918 964, media@aemc.gov.au
17 March 2022
The AEMC invites stakeholders to provide input into the proposed draft rules for the DWGM distributed connected facilities rule change.
The workshop is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide initial feedback on the proposed changes. We will provide an overview of the proposed draft rules, including registration categories, changes to scheduling process, gas quality and metering.
Date: 8 April 2022
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00pm
Location: virtual, via Zoom
An agenda will be circulated to registered attendees prior to the workshop.
Registrations close on 6 April 2022. To register your interest in attending, please click here.
17 March 2022
A virtual information session to present the draft recommendations for the hydrogen and renewable gases review will be held, in conjunction with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and AEMO, from 1pm (AEST), Friday 1 April 2022. To register your interest in attending please email renewablegas@industry.gov.au.
Visit the hydrogen review project page https://www.aemc.gov.au/market-reviews-advice/review-extending-regulatory-frameworks-hydrogen-and-renewable-gases for more information and contact details.
24 February 2022
On 24 February 2022, the AEMC gave notice under the National Electricity Law and National Gas Law to initiate the Minor changes 1 2022 rule change proposal under the expedited rule making process. These rules are being initiated by the AEMC to correct minor errors and make non-material changes to the National Electricity Rules and National Gas Rules to improve their quality. As with previous AEMC initiated rules, these minor corrections and non-material changes will make the rules clearer to stakeholders.
Any written objections to the expedited process must be received by 10 March 2022. The Commission invites parties to provide submissions on the proposal by 24 March 2022.
16 December 2021
The AEMC is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the consultation frameworks under the National Electricity Rules (NER), National Gas Rules (NGR) and National Energy Retail Rules (NERR).
Good consultation is vital to delivering robust and appropriate instruments for the energy sector.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) submitted this rule change request, supported by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). The request focuses on the most common consultation procedure in the NER, the Rules Consultation Procedures. The aim is to make consultation procedures more adaptable to different circumstances.
AEMO proposes removing some of the procedures, timeframes and meetings currently required in rules consultation procedures to give decision-makers more flexibility to undertake fit for purpose consultation. They also propose one round of consultation as the standard (rather than the current two rounds) with additional consultation options if an issue is complex and requires additional consideration.
Another proposal in the request is to remove the extended consultative procedures under the NGR and replace these with the current standard procedure or matching it to any updated electricity changes.
The Commission is also interested in stakeholder views on the value of having standardised consultation processes for the NER, NGR and NERR, Reliability Panel and other ad hoc matters.
Submissions are due by 3 February 2022.
Visit the project page for further information and contact details.
04 November 2021
If you are the owner and/or operator of a distribution and or transmission pipeline which has recently undertaken augmentation, changed owner or operator could you please notify the AEMC to update the Pipeline Register by emailing pipeline.register@aemc.gov.au.
For more information visit the AEMC Gas Pipeline Register webpage.
11 February 2021
If you are the owner and/or operator of a distribution and or transmission pipeline in Queensland which has recently undertaken augmentation, changed owner or operator could you please notify the AEMC by emailing pipeline.register@aemc.gov.au so that this can be reflected in on the AEMC Pipeline Register webpage.
Media: Kellie Bisset, Media and Content Manager, 0438 490 041 or (02) 8296 7813
08 October 2020
Energy ministers have asked the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to review the nation’s gas supply guarantee arrangements.
Terms of Reference for the review released today describe the gas supply guarantee as “an important mechanism (to) ensure availability of gas to meet the demands of gas generators during peak demand periods across national electricity market jurisdictions.”
Under this review the AEMC will consider whether the guarantee should continue either in its current or in another form.
We will carry out this work during 2021 and report back to the energy ministers in the first quarter of 2022.
The purpose of this review is to advise energy ministers on:
What is the gas supply guarantee (GSG)?
The guarantee was initiated by the Australian Government in March 2017 in a package of gas market initiatives which included the national domestic gas reservation policy.
Under the GSG, gas producers and pipeline service providers made voluntary commitments to the Australian Government to supply gas-fired generators to regions under system stress, such as demand spikes during heat waves.
Specifically, under the guarantee gas producers are to make extra gas available to gas fired generators through the facilitated gas markets or using bilateral contracts. In addition, pipeline service providers are to provide interruptible transport agreements for extra supply, coordinate the transfer of gas between pipelines, and as transport additional gas as required.
To date, the gas supply guarantee has not been called upon.
What are the gas supply guarantee guidelines?
To support the gas producers and pipeline service providers delivering on these commitments, the gas supply guarantee guidelines were developed by the market operator, AEMO.
These guidelines are in operation until March 2023.
Under these guidelines, AEMO monitors gas and electricity market outlooks to help it form a view on the risk of supply shortfalls in gas available to meet the needs of gas fired generators operating at the capacity required during peak demand periods in the national electricity market.
If AEMO considers that there is, or may be, a shortfall, then a conference of industry participants is convened to resolve the supply inadequacy.
Media: Kellie Bisset Media and Content Manager 0438 490 041