2026 review of the Forecasting Best Practice guidelines

We are accepting submissions on proposed non-material amendments to the Forecasting Best Practice (FBP) guidelines until 24 April 2026. We are expecting to release final amendments which will come into effect by 3 July 2026.

Background

On 25 March 2026, we commenced a targeted review of the Forecasting Best Practice guidelines and published proposed amendments for consultation. The FBP guidelines provide guidance for the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) forecasting practices and processes for their reliability forecasts and the Integrated System Plan (ISP).

This review is targeted at improving the efficiency of compliance reporting processes that were identified in previous ISP cycles. This targeted review also provides an opportunity to implement changes identified previously to better align the Forecasting Best Practice guidelines with two rules made by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Improving consideration of demand side factors in the ISP and Better integration of gas and community sentiment in the ISP.

The review proposes the following changes to the guidelines:

• improving efficiency of processes for AEMO to follow in producing compliance reports for the release of an ISP methodology and Inputs Assumptions and Scenarios Report (IASR) in close succession, specifically:
  • extending the period in which AEMO must prepare their compliance reports
  • allowing AEMO to request an extension to this period
  • allowing AEMO to consider combining the compliance reports.
• alignment with updated definitions and features from the AEMC rule changes.

As the changes suggested do not implement new requirements on AEMO or its process, or otherwise significantly impact the function of the National Electricity Market, we consider our amendments are non-material proposals and have initiated an expedited review of the FBP guidelines as per clause 8.9.3 of the National Electricity Rules (NER).