Overview
The Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO) is designed to support reliability in the National Electricity Market (NEM). In particular it encourages retailers, and some large energy users, to establish contracts for their share of demand for a prescribed period. The RRO can be triggered if the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) identifies a reliability gap in a region of the NEM as part of its Electricity Statement of Opportunities. The South Australia Minister also has the power to do this (under NEL Part 7A 19B (1)) if it appears to the Minister on reasonable grounds that there is real risk that the supply of electricity in all or part of South Australia may be disrupted to a significant degree on 1 or more occasions during a period in the instrument.
On 6 January 2022, the South Australia Minister for Energy and Mining triggered the RRO in South Australia for the first quarter of 2025.
Under South Australia’s declaration, the details of the prescribed period are each working weekday from 13 January 2025 – 14 March 2025 for the trading periods between 3 PM and 9 PM EST.
Notification of closed T-3 Reliability gap
On 31 August 2023 AEMO notified the AER that the South Australian from 13 January to 14 March 2025 reliability gap is no longer forecast. As a result the reliability gap is now closed.
Market Liquidity Obligation
The Market Liquidity Obligation (MLO) is a market making requirement designed to facilitate transparency and liquidity in the trading of electricity futures contracts relating to a forecast reliability gap. The MLO operates between T-3 and T-1 when the RRO is triggered. MLO generators under the MLO are required to post bids and offers, with a maximum spread, on an approved exchange for standardised products that cover the period of the gap.
In South Australia the MLO generators are AGL, Origin and Engie. The MLO begins on 7 February 2022.
Key documents
| Documents | Author |
|---|---|
| AEMO - SA - 2025 Forecast Reliability Gap - 31 August 2023 ( PDF 174.29 KB ) | AEMO |