Submission to OECC Peak Demand Reduction Scheme consultation paper

PIAC made a submission to the OECCs Peak demand reduction scheme rule change 2 consultation paper. 

Enabling more dynamic and efficient demand management is crucial to realising a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system for NSW. Reducing peak demand decreases the likelihood of power outages, eases pressure on wholesale electricity prices, mitigates the need for expensive network augmentation, increases capacity to integrate renewables, and removes potential barriers to rapid coal generation exit.

PIAC strongly supports the proposal to expand the PDRS through new demand response and demand shifting activities. These new activities are essential to meeting the 2029-30 peak demand reduction target of 10% and fostering a more efficient and effective demand-side market. 

In our submission, we recommended the OECC link demand shifting activities to enrolment in demand response programs to ensure they are consistent with efforts to reduce peak demand. We also encouraged the OECC to further expand the PDRS to areas such as electric vehicle charging as soon as practicable to support the transition to a renewable energy system.