The Public Utilities Office progressed reforms to improve access to Western Power's electricity network in the South West interconnected system (SWIS). These reforms were supported by complementary and consequential reforms to the Wholesale Electricity Market, in particular implementation of security-constrained economic dispatch and market arrangements, co-optimisation of energy and ancillary services, and facility bidding for all Market Participants. These reforms required substantial changes to power system operations. The design of these reforms also need to consider other issues, current and emerging, in regard to the management of power system security and reliability, and had sufficient longevity to facilitate the operation of the power system in the longer term.
On 16 July 2018, the MAC agreed to establish the Power System Operation Working Group (PSOWG) to assist the MAC in providing advice to AEMO, the Public Utilities Office and the Rule Change Panel on these reforms. The PSOWG's scope of work included consideration, assessment and development of changes to the WEM Rules and WEM Procedures, in respect to the operation of the power system to support the reform program.
AEMO provided the secretariat for the PSOWG. The only standing member of the PSOWG is the Chair appointed by AEMO.
PSOWG Terms of Reference
Transformation Design and Operation Working Group
At the 29 July 2019, MAC meeting, the MAC disbanded the PSOWG as the Energy Transformation Implementation Unit stated that it will manage consultation on the Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy through its own processes. This led to the formation of the Transformation Design and Operation Working Group, which replaced the PSOWG as the key stakeholder consultation forum.
