No. 3–Investigation into the events of 16 January 2007
On 11 September 2007, the AER issued a final report on its investigation into the events of 16 January, when bushfires in the north east of Victoria caused fully loaded 330kV transmission lines between Victoria and New South Wales to trip. The event also caused transmission lines between South Australia and Victoria to trip, resulting in the separation of the national power system into three electrical islands.
A major imbalance between supply and demand followed, which led to the activation of the Victorian automatic under-frequency load shedding scheme. Around 2200MW of load was shed. Load was fully restored within four hours.
A copy of the final report, together with follow-up letters from NEMMCO, and the AER response is available for download.
Outcomes:
Reclassification of non-credible contingency events
AER to propose Rule change to clause 4.2.3(f)
Load shedding
AER recommends formalising communication obligation in arrangements between NEMMCO, JSSCs and NSPs regarding load shedding
AER to undertake compliance auditing of SP AusNet’s protection and control systems
Load restoration
NEMMCO to report to the market by end 2007 on improved load restoration procedures and training AER to propose Rule change to clause 3.9.2
Setting dispatch price to VoLL
NEMMCO to provide an undertaking regarding compliance with clause 3.9.3
Intervention pricing
NEMMCO to provide an undertaking regarding compliance with clause 3.9.3
Compliance with technical performance standards
AER will recommend to the Victorian and Queensland governments that technical standards derogations be removed from the NER
AER to undertake auditing of technical performance compliance programs
Provision of FCAS
AER to follow–up with participant
AER to undertake auditing of generators’ FCAS performance
