Review may resolve power struggle between service providers and users

The resources boom has led to significant increases in the demand for power. Increasingly, resource projects are seeking connections directly to transmission networks in order to meet their large load requirements.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is undertaking a market review, known as the Transmission Frameworks Review, which in part considers the arrangements for connecting to a transmission network. The intention of this part of the review is to enhance transparency in the connection process, and to clarify and simplify the rules relating to connections.

Under the current connection provisions, there is considerable uncertainty as to the services that transmission entities must provide, the scope of the services and the classification of the services for regulatory purposes.