News & Views

Power of Choice

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is working with industry to implement changes arising from a number of Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) inter-related rule changes by 1 December 2017.

These Rule changes, which originated from the AEMC’s Power of Choice (POC) review, include the Competition in Metering Rule Change, the Embedded Networks Rule Change and Updating the B2B Framework Rule Change.

To implement these Rule Changes AEMO has established a POC Implementation Program, comprised of the following work streams:

• AEMO Procedural Development work stream – to define the required changes to electricity retail market Procedures;

• B2B Procedural Development work stream – to facilitate the required changes and updates to the B2B Procedures;

• Systems Development work stream – to design, develop, implement and test changes to AEMO’s retail market systems; and

• Readiness – to coordinate, assist and prepare industry and AEMO for the start of the revised arrangements, and to monitor and report on preparation efforts.

To coordinate the program and facilitate discussions with industry participants about risks, issues and broader implementation matters, AEMO has established a Program Consultative Forum (POC-PCF). In addition to the PCF, each work stream has a dedicated working group for industry engagement.

To find out more about the changes, visit the AEMO Website: https://www.aemo.com.au/Electricity/National-Electricity-Market-NEM/Power-of-Choice

NSW Changes for ASPs and Contractors

Power of Choice means we will be working more closely together

• Power of Choice reforms come into effect on 4 December. From this date, all new electricity meters for residential and small business customers will need to be digital meters. This will provide customers with more information to make better choices about their electricity use.

Retailers, rather than distributors, will be responsible for arranging these new meter connections and replacement meters. To do this, retailers will work with meter providers who will supply, install and maintain meters.

For electricians and ASPs, this means before you start any electrical work that affects a meter – like a new connection or an addition/alteration – you’ll need to request the work through the retailer that supplies power to the property. The retailer will then arrange for a meter provider to contact you about your metering works, and you’ll continue to liaise with your distributor for everything else.

If you’re a Level 2 ASP, you can register your interest to work with Origin Energy’s preferred meter provider, Acumen Metering, by completing this short online form. They’ll then be in contact to let you know about the training and accreditation process.

For more information about Power of Choice, see Origin’s Power of Choice FAQs. You can read more about the change on AEMO’s Power of Choice website.

• There will be changes to the ASP Scheme Rules around Metering (see a draft copy of the new Rules on the NECA TKB site).

• There have been changes within the NSW Electrical Regulator – Fair Trading with the  introduction of the Fair Trading, Electrical Metering Unit (EMU), whose role is to:

• Inspect smart meter installations (will increase to all new meters from 1 December 2017),

• Collect CCEWS,

• Pursue compliance and enforcement action (issue PINs etc.) in relation to non-compliances,

• Refer serious matters to other areas of Fair Trading and/or other agencies for further action,

• Fair Trading’s area of responsibility is from the line side of service protection / meter protection device to customers protection devices Ø Items not included in inspection are point of attachment, consumers mains, service protection and meter protection devices Ø Safety focus but some cross-over with ‘supply’ issues (e.g. MIRS, SIRS)

• Changes to Distributor systems around metering, e.g. the Ausgrid ‘Bulk Issue’ system. Check with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy for specific changes. View the Ausgrid notification to ASP’s on the NECA TKB Website under the ASP Section.

• Changes to the work that ASP’s can do, specifically around metering as well as the requirement for additional training to allow Electricians and ASP’s to work with Smart meters.

To keep up to date with all of the changes around Metering, keep an eye on the NECA Technical Knowledge Base (TKB) area under the ASP Section. For further technical information, contact email tkb@neca.asn.au

Leon Dickson

NECA Technical Advisor