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PIAC lodged a joint submission with Energy Networks Australia and the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) to the AEMC’s draft determination on the Alternatives to grid-supplied network services rule change.
Our three organisations were pleased to note the AEMC’s support for enabling off grid supply where it is cheaper than to maintain and replace long power lines linking remote customers to the national grid. We are concerned, however, that current regulatory arrangements in national electricity market (NEM) jurisdictions lack the flexibility to enable alternative supply solutions to existing grid connected consumers. Requirements to make definitional changes to allied legislation should not preclude timely action that benefits the long-term interests of consumers. Drawing PIAC’s earlier submission to the issues paper, we called for coordinated action on this matter.
We proposed that the AEMC should identify the required changes to inform its considerations, and the AEMC’s final determination should include advice to the COAG Energy Council on appropriate changes to jurisdictional reliability and consumer protection instruments.