Rule Change Process

The Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) Rules, Gas Services Information (GSI) Rules and  Pilbara Networks Rules provide for anyone to propose a rule change by completing the Rule Change Proposal Forms below.

To facilitate the development of proposals, align similar proposals and enable orderly consideration of proposals, the Coordinator of Energy recommends external parties wishing to propose a rule change to first contact Energy Policy WA to discuss the issue to be addressed. These discussions will also assist the proponent to frame the proposal and identify how the rule change will further enable the achievement of the Wholesale Market Objectives, GSI Objectives or the Pilbara Electricity Objective.

Usually the Market Advisory Committee (MAC), Gas Advisory Board (GAB) or Pilbara Advisory Committee (PAC) considers proposals in the early stages (i.e. as Concept Papers or Pre Rule Change Proposals) informally before they are submitted into the formal process.

Once formally submitted, the Rule Change Proposal will be processed according to the process in the WEM Rules, GSI Rules or Pilbara Networks Rules. A Rule Change Proposal can be processed using either the standard or the fast track process. The Pilbara Networks Rules also allow for an additional abridged process.

The Rule Change Process allows interested stakeholders to make submissions on Rule Change Proposals. To make a submission on a Rule Change Proposal, please complete the appropriate Rule Change Submission form below.

At the conclusion of the Rule Change Process, the Coordinator of Energy’s decision on whether to accept a Rule Change Proposal, and its reasons, will be published together with a time and date when any accepted Amending Rules will come into force.

Minister for Energy as the decision maker for the Amending Rules

If the Rule Change Proposal relates to a Protected Provision (see clause 2.8.13 of the WEM Rules, subrule 142(2) of the GSI Rules and A2.8.13 of the Pilbara Networks Rules), the Coordinator of Energy must seek the Minister for Energy's approval.

The Minister for Energy is also the decision maker for any Rule Change Proposals submitted by the Coordinator of Energy.

The Standard Rule Change Process

The Standard Rule Change Process includes two rounds of consultation and will usually take around 19 weeks. It involves consultation on a draft report published by the Coordinator of Energy prior to the publication of a final report. In consulting on a Rule Change Proposal, the Coordinator of Energy may convene the MAC, GAB or PAC, meet with interested parties, procure technical advice, or establish a technical working group drawing on industry representatives if this is considered necessary to appropriately develop or evaluate changes.

An additional abridged standard rule change process is also available for proposals to amend the Pilbara Networks Rules. The abridged process allows for steps in the standard process to be truncated. The Coordinator of Energy may subject a proposal to the abridged process where:

• the PAC requests the use of the abridged standard rule change process; or
• the change is not minor or of a procedural nature but is required to correct a manifest error or is urgently required and essential for the safe, effective and reliable operation of the power system.

The Fast Track Rule Change Process

The Fast Track Rule Change Process is a shorter process that normally takes around five weeks to complete and is used when a proposal for the WEM Rules or GSI Rules:

• is of a minor or procedural nature; or
• is required to correct a manifest error; or
• is urgently required, and:
  • for WEM Rule Change Proposals, is essential for the safe, effective and reliable operation of the market or the SWIS; or
  • for GSI Rule Change Proposals, is essential for the effective operation of the GBB.

For the Pilbara Networks Rules, the Coordinator of Energy may subject a Rule Change Proposal to the Fast Rule Track Change Process when the proposal is of a minor or procedural nature or the PAC requests the use of the Fast Track Rule Change Process.