The Australian Energy Market Commission on 11 June 2020 published its final rule determination to introduce a new wholesale demand response mechanism into the National Electricity Market (NEM). Under this rule, eligible large consumers will be able to sell a reduction in their load by way of demand response into the NEM from the effective date, 24 October 2021.
As part of these reforms, the AER must develop Wholesale Demand Response Participation Guidelines. These Guidelines must include guidance about information Demand Response Service Providers (DRSP) must keep regarding compliance with their obligations.
The Guidelines may also include guidance in respect of DRSP obligations in relation to bidding wholesale demand response units when they are baseline non-compliant, or when they will be, or are likely to be, spot price exposed.
On 12 March 2021 the AER published an Issues Paper seeking stakeholder comments on the information DRSPs must retain regarding compliance with their obligations under the new rules.
On 16 July 2021, the AER published a draft decision and draft participation guidelines setting out information DRSPs must keep regarding compliance with their obligations.
On 22 October 2021, the AER published a final decision and participation guidelines.