Today (10 October), the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) initiated a new consultation to investigate the utilization of intelligent data for maximizing consumer energy resources (CERs), which include solar PV and home batteries.
The publication comes in response to a rule change request from Energy Consumers Australia (ECA). It’s worth mentioning that in 2023, the AEMC also provided suggestions to increase the adoption of smart meters throughout the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The suggested rule change proposals put forward two specific adjustments. The first one aims to allow consumers and their authorized representatives to access customer power data, achieved through modifications to the National Electricity Regulations (NER) and the National Energy Retail Rules (NERR).
The second change would guarantee that access to consumer data is provided to consumers at no extra cost and in a format that is meaningful and actionable for them.
Enhanced data access could assist CERs and households in optimizing solar PV. The document emphasizes that effectively managing solar exports relies on real-time knowledge of solar production and consumption, a capability that smart meters can provide.
Anna Collyer, the chair of AEMC, mentioned that millions of Australians are adopting a transition to a more sustainable energy system and recognizing the financial benefits that CER technologies and adaptable energy usage, including devices with timer settings, can offer to consumers.
Collyer emphasized that smart meters serve as the fundamental digital infrastructure for a contemporary, interconnected, and efficient energy system. By transforming power into knowledge, smart meters bring advantages to various stakeholders, including system operators, networks, households, and businesses.
Submissions for the consultation are being accepted until 7 November 2024.
CERs could help stabilise NEM after coal withdrawal
Under the proposed rule changes by AEMC, the endorsement of smart meters and the optimization of solar PV systems could have a significant impact on the National Electricity Market (NEM) at a broader level. According to previous reports from PV Tech, it is anticipated that coal will be completely phased out from Australia’s power grids by 2038. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has previously emphasized the need for increased grid investments to ensure that large-scale renewable energy generators can effectively replace coal and bridge the energy gap.
In a move to address this situation, the AEMC recently introduced a draft determination in late July 2024. The proposal aims to allow virtual power plants (VPPs) to directly compete with large-scale generators in the energy market. This would involve enabling aggregated consumer energy resources (CERs) to be scheduled and dispatched within the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The AEMC highlighted that small resources, such as backup generators and solar PV systems, which can adjust their output based on price fluctuations, have the potential to respond to changes in spot prices. This capability would not only contribute to a decentralized energy system but also enhance its resilience.
By incorporating consumer energy resources (CERs), the projected cost savings are estimated to be approximately A$834 million (US$552.1 million) from 2027 to 2050. This inclusion would not only generate significant financial benefits but also provide additional incentives for the adoption of small-scale solar PV installations.
