PIAC along with 23 other groups, including the Australian Council of Social Services, Consumer Action Law Centre, The Australia Institute, Australian Industry Group, NSW Tenants Union, Major Energy Users, Enel X, and Rheem, made a joint submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) draft decision to implement a demand response mechanism into the wholesale energy market.
We broadly support the AEMC’s draft decision, in particular its settlement approach, which ensures the direct costs of participating in wholesale demand response are, as far as possible, borne by those who directly benefit. However, we consider two aspects of the draft decision should be amended: the mechanism should be introduced before July 2022 and all consumers, including households, should be allowed to participate from the outset.
We address details of the draft rule and discuss options for introducing the mechanism before 2022 and extending it to all consumers while providing appropriate protections.
