(1) long term benefits to Registered Participants in terms of cost and reliability of the national grid; and (2) open communication and information flows relating to connections between Registered Participants themselves, and between Registered Participants and AEMO, while ensuring the security of confidential information belonging to competitors in the market.". 2 Clause 5.3.1—Process and procedures 2.1 For clause 5.3.1 of the National Electricity Rules substitute— "5.3.1 Process and procedures the purposes of this rule 5.3: establish a connection includes modify an existing connection or plant but does not include alterations to generating plant in the circumstances set out in clause 5.3.9. Registered Participant or person intending to become a Registered Participant who wishes to establish a connection to a network must follow the procedures in this rule 5.3. Generator wishing to alter connected generating plant must comply with clause 5.3.9.
a document approved by the AER as a model standing offer to provide basic connection services (see clause 5A.B.3) or as a model standing offer to provide standard connection services (see clause 5A.B.5). negotiated connection contract – see clause 5A.C.1. new connection a connection established or to be established, in accordance with this Chapter and applicable energy laws, where there is no existing connection. non-registered embedded generator means an embedded generator that is neither a micro embedded generator nor a Registered Participant. premises connection assets the components of a distribution system used to provide connection services. real estate developer means a person who carries out a real estate development. real estate development
means the commercial development of land including its development in 1 or more of the following ways: (a) subdivision; (b) the construction of commercial or industrial premises (or both); (c) the construction of multiple new residential premises. retail customer includes a non-registered embedded generator and a micro embedded generator. standard connection service means a connection service (other than a basic connection service) for a particular class (or sub-class) of connection applicant and for which a model standing offer has been approved by the AER. supply service means a service (other than a connection service) relating to the supply of electricity. 5A.A.2 Application of this Chapter Chapter does not apply to, or in relation to, a connection applicant that is a Registered Participant or an Intending Participant unless the Registered Participant or Intending
(i) the technical requirements for the proposed new connection or connection alteration; and (ii) the extent and costs of any necessary augmentation of the distribution system; and (iii) any consequent change in charges for distribution use of system services; and (iv) any possible material effect of the proposed new connection or connection alteration on the network power transfer capability of the distribution network to which the new connection or connection alteration is proposed to be made and any other distribution network that might be affected by the proposed new connection or connection alteration. (6) the Distribution Network Service Provider must make reasonable endeavours to make a connection offer that complies with the connection applicant's reasonable requirements. Example Reasonable requirements as to the location of the proposed connection or the level and standard of the
standard connection service or neither; and (2) if; (i) the connection service is neither a basic connection service nor a standard connection service; or (ii) the connection applicant elects to have a negotiated connection contract even though the proposed connection service is a or standard connection service; advise the connection applicant of the negotiated connection process and of possible costs and expenses related to the negotiations. single application may relate to multiple connection services of the same or different kinds. 5A.D.4 Site inspection If a Distribution Network Service Provider reasonably needs to make a site inspection in order to determine the nature of a connection service sought by a connection applicant, the Distribution Network Service Provider may charge its reasonable expenses to the connection applicant and recover those expenses as a debt.
5A.E.1 Connection charge principles clause states the connection charge principles. retail customer than a nonregistered embedded generator or a real estate developer) who applies for a connection service for which an augmentation is required cannot be required to make a capital contribution towards the cost of the augmentation (insofar as it involves more than an extension) if: (1) the application is for a basic connection service; or (2) a relevant threshold set in the Distribution Network Service Provider's connection policy is not exceeded. Note In general, the intention is to exclude deep system augmentation charges for retail customers. to paragraph (b), in determining connection charges in accordance with its connection policy, a Distribution Network Service Provider must apply the following principles: (1) if an extension to the distribution network is necessary in order to provide a connection service,
of upstream augmentation required to provide the connection service and associated cost; other incidental costs and the basis of their calculation including, if relevant, costs of minor deviation from the standard specification for a basic connection service or a standard connection service (as the case may require). 5A.E.3 Connection charge guidelines AER must develop and publish guidelines (connection charge guidelines) for the development of connection policies by Distribution Network Service Providers. purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that connection charges: (1) are reasonable, taking into account the efficient costs of providing the connection services arising from the new connection or connection alteration and the revenue a prudent operator in the circumstances of the relevant Distribution Network Service Provider would require to provide those connection services; and (2) provide, without undue administrative cost, a user-pays signal to reflect the efficient cost
estate developer) are exempt from any requirement to pay connection charges (or to give consideration in the form of a capital contribution, prepayment or financial guarantee) for an augmentation (other than an extension) to the distribution network necessary to make the connection; and (5) describe the methods for calculating the augmentation component for the connection assets and, if the augmentation consists of or includes an extension, the extension component of a connection charge; and (6) describe the method for calculating: (i) the amount of a refund of connection charges for a connection asset when an extension asset originally installed to connect the premises of a single retail customer is used, within 7 years of its installation, to connect other premises and thus comes to be used for the benefit of 2 or more retail customers; and (ii) the threshold which the refund is not payable; and
(7) describe the treatment of augmentation assets. principles for establishing an exemption under paragraph (c)(4) must ensure that the exemption only operates in the following circumstances: (1) the connection is a low voltage connection; and (2) the connection would not normally require augmentation of the network beyond the extension to the distribution network necessary to make the connection; and (3) the connection is not expected to increase the load on the distribution network beyond a level the Distribution Network Service Provider could reasonably be expected to cope with in the ordinary course of managing the distribution network. developing the guidelines, the AER must have regard to: (1) historical and geographical differences between networks; and (2) inter-jurisdictional differences related to regulatory control mechanisms, classification of
(2) a dispute between a Distribution Network Service Provider and a customer about connection charges. relevant dispute is an access dispute for the purposes of section 2A of the Law. 5A.G.2 Determination of dispute determining a relevant dispute, the AER must (so far as applicable) give effect to: (1) the relevant connection policy; and (2) a relevant model standing offer to provide a basic or standard connection service; and (3) this Chapter and any other applicable regulatory instrument. determining a relevant dispute, the AER may also: (1) have regard to other matters the AER considers relevant; and (2) hear evidence or receive submissions from the Distribution Network Service Provider and the customer; and (3) if the dispute relates to a negotiated connection contract – have regard to the negotiation
(10) details of the embedded generator's monetary obligations including billing arrangements and any security to be provided by the embedded generator; and (11) details of the Distribution Network Service Provider's monetary obligations (if any) to the embedded generator; and (12) a provision requiring the Distribution Network Service Provider to provide information about the connection to the embedded generator; and (13) provision for amendment of the connection contract by agreement between the Distribution Network Service Provider and the embedded generator. connection contract that relates to supply services must also deal with: (1) the Distribution Network Service Provider's power to interrupt or reduce the supply of electricity to the connection point; and (2) warranties and limitations on the Distribution Network Service Provider's liability; and (3) disconnection and reconnection; and
17.6 In Chapter 10 of the National Electricity Rules, at the foot of the definition of Embedded Generator, insert— "Note: In the context of Chapter 5A, the above definition has been displaced by a definition specifically applicable to that Chapter. See clause 5A.A.1.". Schedule 3—Transitional provisions for retail customer connection arrangements Section 16T 1 Definitions this Schedule— applicable regulatory control period, for a distribution company, the regulatory control period imposed under the next distribution determination which applies to the distribution company; distribution company means any of the following companies— (a) Citipower Pty Ltd (ACN 064 651 056); (b) Jemena Electricity Networks (Vic) Ltd (ACN 064 651 083); (c) Powercor Australia Ltd (ACN 064 651 109);