Values of Customer Reliability review

PIAC responded to the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) review into Values of Customer Reliability (VCR).

PIAC highlights the complexity of the current energy landscape and the importance of an accurate and robust VCR.

We broadly support the AER’s draft decision but make a number of recommendations concerning the development of a VCR guideline, the AER’s proposed methodology for determining VCR, load shedding, segmentation and the possibility of overstating values of reliability.

We reiterate the AER should develop a guideline for the application and use of VCR and consider seeking a rule change to National Energy Rules to make the guideline binding. We consider a guideline is essential to ensure transparency, consistency and reliability as systems and environments change.