Phase 1 of the Electricity Market Review identified an urgent need for industry and market reform in the electricity sector to address a problem of high and increasing costs of electricity services. Phase 2 of the Electricity Market Review was launched on 24 March 2015.
The reform projects under Phase 2 can be categorised as follows: Network Regulation, Market Competition, Institutional Arrangements and Wholesale Electricity Market Improvements.
- Network Regulation
Examination of the transfer of regulation of the Western Power network including price, connection and access, from the Western Australian regime to be regulated under the National Electricity Law and Relevant National Electricity Rules. - Market Competition
Consideration of reforms to enhance market competitive outcomes through full retail contestability and the removal of barriers to entry in the retail and wholesale market. - Institutional Arrangements
Transfer of system management functions and market operation functions to the Australian Energy Market Operator, creation of a new market rule change committee, establishing a Western Australian reliability panel, investigating the merits of replacing the five Market Objectives with the singular National Electricity Objective, and replacing Western Australian Energy Disputes Arbitrator and Western Australian Energy Disputes Board with more cost-efficient dispute resolution bodies and procedures. - Wholesale Electricity Market Improvements
Reforms to the Reserve Capacity Mechanism to address the manner in which the capacity price and volume is determined; and reforms to existing energy market operations and processes.
Governance
The Steering Committee appointed to oversee Phase 2 consisted of Ray Challen (Chair), David Swift, Michael Court, Lyndon Rowe, Paul Evans, Steve Wood and Seán McGoldrick.
The Steering Committee was supported by a Project Office based within the former Public Utilities Office.
