Sector
Electricity
Segment
Distribution
Categories
Demand management incentive scheme
Release date

The AER introduced a new Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) in December 2017 to encourage electricity distribution network service providers (DNSPs) to find lower-cost alternatives to investing in network capital expenditure. The DMIS will incentivise DNSPs to undertake efficient expenditure on non-network options focusing on demand management (DM).

The DMIS has three key features:

  1. Cost uplift – This gives DNSPs a financial incentive of up to 50% of their expected costs of efficient DM projects.
  2. Net benefit constraint – The size of the incentive must not outweigh the value (or net benefit) the DM project delivers across the electricity market. The DNSPs will estimate the net benefit of projects — for large projects, DNSPs will do this through the regulatory investment test; and for small projects, they must use the cost–benefit analysis method prescribed by the scheme.
  3. Overall incentive constraint – The total incentive in any year cannot exceed 1% of the distributor’s allowed revenue for that year.

The publication of DNSPs' annual compliance reports will assist us in identifying any need to change the magnitude of the cost uplift in a future version of the scheme and provide transparency to enhance understanding how different DNSPs are:

  • estimating, accounting for and realising the benefits of DM
  • providing DM as an input for distribution network services, and subsequently accruing financial incentives under the scheme
  • proactively tendering for another legal entity to provide DM services
  • undertaking DM in-house in a manner that is compliant with the ring-fencing guideline
  • utilising DM in different ways to meet their unique network needs.

Documents

AER decision - Approval of Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) incentives for 2019–20 - April 2021

Authors
AER
Content type
Document

Ausgrid - Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) 2019-20 Report - Nov 2020

Authors
Ausgrid
Content type
Document

AusNet Services - Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) 2019 Report - April 2020

Authors
AusNet Services (D)
Content type
Document

Endeavour - Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) 2019-20 Report - Nov 2020

Authors
Endeavour Energy
Content type
Document

Ergon Energy - Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) 2019-20 Report - Nov 2020

Authors
Ergon Energy
Content type
Document

Ergon Energy - Demand Management Incentive Scheme 2019-20 Confidentiality Claim - Feb 2021

Authors
Ergon Energy
Content type
Document

United Energy - Demand Management Incentive Scheme (DMIS) 2019 Report - April 2020

Authors
United Energy
Content type
Document