The Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO) is supported by AER guidelines, which provide detail on how the various stages of the RRO operate and impose obligations on entities involved in the RRO. To support timely implementation of the RRO, the AER was required to make a number of its Guidelines as ‘interim Guidelines’ in the months following commencement. The Rules require each of these to be transitioned from interim to final following the rules consultation procedures.
The interim Forecasting Best Practice Guideline was transitioned to final in August 2020 as part of the AER’s work package to make the Integrated System Plan actionable.
In February 2021, following consultation with stakeholders, the AER deferred consultation on the Reliability Compliance Procedures and Guidelines and the three interim guidelines (Reliability Instrument Guidelines, Market Liquidity Obligation (MLO) Guidelines, and Contracts and Firmness Guidelines).
The reason for the deferral was that Energy Ministers had not yet considered the Energy Security Board’s (ESB) final recommendations on the Post 2025 Market Design. The ESB's Post 2025 Market Design Directions paper, released on 5 January 2021, presented potential changes to the RRO, and by implication to the role and nature of the AER’s Guidelines. In October 2021, Energy Ministers endorsed the ESB's recommendations.
Following consideration of the recommendations, in November 2022 the AER published an issues paper to commence consultation on the Reliability Compliance Procedures and Guidelines. In March 2023, the AER published the draft Reliability Compliance Procedures and Guidelines (draft Guidelines) for consultation. The draft Guidelines explain what is required, by both the AER and market participants, to comply with the RRO in accordance with the National Electricity Rules.
The AER does not intend to update the three interim guidelines to final at this time. This means that the interim Reliability Instrument Guidelines, MLO Guidelines and Contracts and Firmness Guidelines will remain in place to support the current rules. The AER will continue to monitor and enforce the RRO under relevant provisions of the National Electricity Law and Rules.
| Milestone | Interim Guideline published | Final Guideline published |
|---|---|---|
| Opt-in Guidelines | N/A | 30 June 2020 |
| Forecasting Best Practice Guidelines | 20 September 2019 | August 2020 |
| Reliability Instrument Guidelines | 31 July 2019 | TBC |
| Market Liquidity Obligation Guidelines | 30 August 2019 | TBC |
| Contracts and Firmness Guidelines | 30 August 2019 | TBC |
| Reliability Compliance Procedures and Guidelines | N/A | TBC (indicative publication - June 2023) |