On 31 January 2025, the AER decided to let the Reliability Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT) class waiver lapse. This waiver expired on 15 April 2025. We encourage networks who wish to be registered to the RERT panel to apply for an individual ring-fencing waiver.
The decision to let class waiver expire was informed by stakeholders' feedback received through the consultation between November to December 2024.
Background
On 14 December 2022, the AER granted a class waiver under the Electricity Distribution Ring-fencing Guideline to distribution network service providers (DNSPs). The class waiver allowed DNSPs to contract with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to provide Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT) services via voltage management.
The class waiver followed a request from AEMO to increase reserves to address forecast reliability gaps.
The AER had engaged with stakeholders and sought their feedback on granting the class waiver. The AER considered at that point in time, the class waiver was necessary to meet AEMO’s needs to procure RERT and provides benefits to consumers through likely lower RERT costs.