MINUTES – Gas Retail Consultative Forum (GRCF)
MEETING : / 111DATE: / Tuesday 8 November 2016
TIME: / 9.30 AM – 12.30 PM
LOCATION: / AEMO’s Melbourne office and Teleconference.
Contact: /
ATTENDEES:
Name / Company / DepartmentDanny McGowan (Chair) / AEMO
Hayley George (Secretariat) / AEMO
Nandu Datar / AEMO
Ruth Guest / AEMO
Trupti Gondaliya (ROCL only) / AEMO
Payal Kaushik (ROCL only) / AEMO
Rachel Rundle (PwC Audit item only) / AEMO
Matthew Hunt (PwC Audit item only) / PwC
Nick Burjorjee (PwC Audit item only) / PwC
Kim Cullen / AGL
Rick Abbott / APA
Justin Betlehem / AusNet Services
Robert Gubbins / CGI
Georgina Snelling / Energy Australia
Emillee Kueh / Jemena
Justin Luu / Jemena
Stefani Macri / Lumo/ Red Energy
Verity Watson / MultiNet Gas
Mario Iogha / Origin Energy
Kelly Murray / Multinet
1. Apologies
Danny McGowan (Chair) welcomed participants to the 111th meeting of the GRCF.
Andrew Mair (M2 Energy) was a noted apology.
2. Confirm Agenda
The agenda was confirmed and additional items added to ‘Other Business’:
· Meter Fix Notification to AEMO (NSW/ACT related) requested by Jemena– agenda item 12.
· Section 12.A of Retail Market Procedures (NSW/ACT) transitional provisions, requested by AEMO – agenda item 13.
3. PwC Audit Findings
Matthew Hunt (PwC) talked to the PwC Audit Findings presentation included in the meeting pack, advising that PwC as the AEMO market auditors have reviewed internal control procedures in relation to compliance with the Retail Market Procedures (RMP) for the New South Wales/ACT, South Australian, Victorian and Queensland Retail Gas Markets for the year ended 30 June 2016 in the following areas:
· AEMO’s compliance processes and compliance with the RMP.
· IT controls, including software management and business continuity.
· Integrity of the metering register.
· Profiling and allocation processes and systems.
· Retail billing and information systems.
· Follow up of the implementation status of prior market findings.
· Considering the non-compliances reported by management.
Overall, 27 audit findings remain open, all of which are in the low to medium risk rating; nothing critical or significant was reported.
Nick Burjorjee (PwC) then noted the next steps, and the timetable for completing the 30 June 2017 year-end audit.
Stefanie Macri (Red/Lumo) questioned whether the audit looked at the April 2016 RoLR event, which PwC confirmed it did.
Kim Cullen (AGL) suggested that the 30 June 2017 year-end audit specifically looks at the NSW/ACT market, in light of NARGP changes. PwC noted this and will take the suggestion into consideration for the audit.
Mario Iogha (Origin) asked if AEMO could share internal audit findings related to the NARGP project with the GRCF. AEMO will consider this and advise if sharing this information is appropriate (Action Item 111.3.1).
Danny McGowan (AEMO) noted that two of the four ‘Low’ rated instances of non-compliance with the RMP (NSW/ACT) are likely to lead to RMP changes in early 2017. These are noted on the Retailer Market Issue/Change Register as items IN033/16 (Proposal to remove a AEMO provision in the RMPs (Clause 9.1(c) to provide an overall outcome report from the forecasting algorithm) and IN038/16 (Align the requirements in clause of 8.12.1 of the AEMO NSW Retail Market Procedures with the delivery of market reports generated by the NSW RMO system (GRMBS).
PwC welcomed GRCF feedback on the audit findings for 2016 or the scope of works for 2017 by 25 November 2016, which can be sent directly to either or , or to AEMO via the Risk and Compliance team (Action Item 111.3.2).
4. Self-service facility for Participants to maintain (ROCL) information
Payal Kaushik (AEMO) gave a presentation on the proposed self-service ROCL portal, which was included in the meeting pack. A demonstration in the pre-production environment was shown, and AEMO advised that a link with a generic username and password were included in the presentation slide pack to allow participants to log in and explore the new portal themselves also.
Trupti Gondaliya (AEMO) noted the next steps timetable, confirming that the portal will only be used for gas at this stage, however once tested and users are happy with the portal service it would also be rolled out to electricity.
Kelly Murray (United Energy) asked if a notification would be sent to users to advise when an update has been made in the portal; which would advise what change has been made. The notification to advise what changes have been made could either be via a configurable notification, or a list of changes that users can view when logged in. AEMO will investigate if this type of notification is possible and advise the GRCF (Action Item 111.4.1).
Stefanie Macri (Red/Lumo) suggested that multiple login’s be provided to users, so one person within an organisation has authority to edit the contact details for their organisation only, while others can login and see a read only version. Other GRCF attendees agreed that this would be helpful for controlling the information within the portal. AEMO advised that multiple logins with various levels of access per company is possible. It was also suggested that the read only login access can be generic across the industry.
AEMO will send out the presentation to the GRCF again, with an example of the downloadable spreadsheet and login details for users to test the portal (Action item 111.4.2).
GRCF representatives may provide feedback to AEMO () by 22 November 2016. Non-response from GRCF representatives will be noted as acceptance by AEMO (Action item 111.4.3).
5. Administration
5a. Previous Minutes - August
The 109th GRCF meeting minutes were noted as accepted by GRCF stakeholders.
5b. Previous Minutes – September
Justin Luu (Jemena) advised that Jemena did not agree to action item 110.2.3 to circulate meter read results to impacted retailers, and request the action item be removed. The GRCF agreed to this request. With this amendment, the 110th GRCF meeting minutes were noted as accepted by GRCF stakeholders.
Action Items
Updates to the action items are appended to these meeting minutes, located from page six.
5c. Retail Markets Collaborative Working Group Report
The monthly report was circulated for reference with the meeting pack. No questions were raised by stakeholders.
5d. 2016 Industry Calendar
The 2016 Industry Calendar was noted. AEMO also advised that a draft of the 2017 Industry Calendar has been created, and will circulate the draft with the minutes of the meeting (Action Item 111.5.1).
6. Issues and Change Register
The Issues and Change Register was noted. Ten items have been added to the list since the last GRCF meeting; IN031/16, IN032/16, IN033/16, IN034/16, IN036/16, IN037/16, IN038/16, IN039/16, IN040/16 and IN041/16. Seven items have since been completed; IN003/16, IN019/15, IN028/16, IN029/16, IN031/16, IN035/16 and IN036/16.
Item IN04/16 on the pending tab was noted specifically, and will be discussed under ‘other business’ as a potential consultation.
7. IN034/16 - Certification Enhancement
Nandu Datar (AEMO) spoke to GMI IN034/16 (Self Service initiative to FRC HUB Certification process), and the proposal for the approval process to change to self-service, noting that while participants already have a self-service certification checker screen where they can check the status of the transactions submitted in the certification run, this enhancement is proposing to update the current certification process to remove the bottleneck of participants waiting for feedback from FBSAdmin for each transaction submitted. The response would be provided on the screen, with participants only needing to contact FBSAdmin once all transactions have passed for a final approval.
A number of procedures will be affected by the change, and AEMO is asking for feedback from the GRCF by 16 November 2016. It was confirmed that there are no system impacts for participants as part of the procedure changes. It was also confirmed that the change will only be applicable to gas retail market.
Stefanie Macri (Red/Lumo) requested that this item is tabled at the next ITDF forum, for their endorsement prior to GRCF endorsement. AEMO will ensure this is tabled at the next ITDF meeting (Action Item 111.7.1).
AEMO noted the next steps and proposed timetable for the change, and will recirculate the GMI with a request for formal feedback to be provided by 16 November 2016 (Action Item 111.7.2).
8. Other Business
· AGN gas distribution network extension to supply McLaren Vale: Rick Abbott (APA) advised there will be an extension to the Adelaide metro sub network, which will form part of the STTM. Retailers were requested to alert the appropriate people within their businesses for their information. Works have commenced in November.
· AEMO people changes: Ruth Guest (AEMO) noted that Allicia Volvricht has moved to a two year secondment to support the WA integration, along with Taryn Maroney who was formerly chairing the GRCF. Danny McGowan will now resume chairing the GRCF, with Ruth as the regulatory change manager for Gas Markets.
· Potential Consultations for Nov 16 to Mar 2017: Danny McGowan (AEMO) advised that AEMO have mapped out which changes, mostly related to NSW/ACT could be achieved in conjunction with the Shoalhaven changes currently underway. The GRCF will receive information on each of the minor changes. The timing of when submissions are due will be staggered (noting the current heavy participant workload for PoC). The GRCF agreed with AEMO’s proposal, and AEMO will send out a draft schedule of items and key dates (Action Item 111.8.1).
· GRCF prioritisation session at January 2017 meeting: It was noted that a prioritisation session, to restart longer term GRCF prioritisation, will be held during the January meeting to plan for 2017 activities. AEMO has planned to do its own review of the Issue/Change register and come up with a list of priorities ready for the January session.
Stefanie Macri (Red/Lumo) requested that when AEMO completes its list of priorities, it is circulated to the GRCF ahead of the January meeting. AEMO agreed to issue its review of the Issue/Change register prior to the January meeting (Action Item 111.8.2).
9. Next Meeting
The next GRCF meeting is scheduled for 17 January 2017. AEMO advised that a draft of the 2017 Industry Calendar has been created, and will be circulated with the meeting minutes (Action Item 111.5.1).
**NSW/ACT ITEMS**
10. IN033/16 - Remove an AEMO Redundant Provision
Carol Poon (AEMO) talked to the proposal paper included in the meeting pack, outlining that Clause 9.1(c) requires AEMO to publish a monthly report to each User on the forecasting information and its accuracy. AEMO (and its predecessors) have never published this monthly report to the Users. Instead, AEMO publishes the report ‘ERFTForecastingDataRpt’ which contains the forecasting information and its estimated accuracy to the Users each day as per clause 8.4.1 of the Procedures. AEMO therefore seek to remove the redundant Clause 9.1(c) next time a consultation on the Procedures is run.
AEMO will reissue the paper on removing the redundant Clause 9.1(c) and request feedback from the GRCF (Action Item 111.10.1). AEMO welcome GRCF feedback on this proposal via email to by 18 November 2016.
The next step will be to include this proposal in a formal consultation, which is suggested to take place with the Shoalhaven consultation. AEMO also noted that this item was a result of a 2016 audit finding.
11. IN038/16 - Align requirements with the delivery of market reports generated by the system
Robert Gubbins (CGI) talked to the proposal paper, which is seeking approval from NSW and ACT participants to align the requirements in clause of 8.12.1 of the AEMO NSW Retail Market Procedures with the delivery of market reports generated by the NSW RMO system (GRMBS). This proposal has been driven by a 2016 audit finding that stated the Daily Net Section Load and Apportionment Percentage Reports were not provided to participants in accordance with the Procedures. The specific report currently has to be sent by 11am, however there is no material impact for the time of report publication, therefore CGI and AEMO seek to remove the timeframe for publication.
AEMO will make some amendments to the proposal paper, which will be treated as a GMI, and request feedback from the GRCF. An email with the updated paper and a request for feedback by 21 November 2016 will be sent to GRCF stakeholders (Action Item 111.11.1).
12. Meter Fix Notification to AEMO
Emillee Kueh (Jemena) advised that Jemena have identified an issue with T94 MFX Transactions. Currently the MIRM needs to be in a commissioned status to enable MIRN activation, however a MIRN may need to be activated from a decommissioned status. Jemena propose that AEMO remove the validation for the MIRN status field for this transaction, which could be a potential system change. AEMO would therefore need to be in contact with CGI about this proposed change, and requested Jemena to provide the proposed marked up changes to the build pack to accompany their GMI. Once this is received it can then be added to the Issues and Change Register for discussion at the January 2017 meeting. (Action Item’s 111.12.1 and 111.12.2).
13. Section 12.A of Retail Market Procedures (NSW/ACT) – transitional provisions
Danny McGowan (AEMO) reminded the GRCF that the transition provisions regarding extension of delivery timeframes for metering data as set out in section 12.A of the Retail Market Procedures fall away from 31 March 2017. AEMO is planning to issue a notice to participants advising the transitional provisions cease effective on 31 March 2017 (Action Item 111.13.1).
GRCF MEeting 111 – november 2016 PAGE 12
Action items raised at meeting #111
Item / Topic / Action required / Responsible / By111.3.1 / Audit Findings / Origin asked if AEMO could share internal audit findings related to the NARGP project with the GRCF. AEMO will consider this and advise if this information can be shared. / AEMO / 17 Jan 2017
111.3.2 / Audit Findings / PwC welcomed GRCF feedback on the audit findings for 2016 or the scope of works for 2017. Feedback is to be sent to either or , or to AEMO via the Risk and Compliance team . / GRCF / 25 Nov 2016
111.4.1 / Self-service facility for Participants to maintain (ROCL) information / AEMO to investigate and advise the GRCF if a notification to advise users when updates are made in the ROCL self-service portal (and what changes have been made) can be created. / AEMO / 22 Nov 2017
111.4.2 / Self-service facility for Participants to maintain (ROCL) information / AEMO to send out the ROCL presentation to the GRCF again, with an example of the downloadable spreadsheet and login details for users to test the portal.
Secretariat note: This was e-mail by AEMO () on 8 Nov / AEMO / Complete
111.4.3 / Self-service facility for Participants to maintain (ROCL) information / GRCF reps may provide feedback to AEMO (). / GRCF / 22 Nov 2017
111.5.1 / 2017 Industry Calendar / AEMO to circulate a copy of the draft 2017 Industry Calendar. / AEMO / Complete
111.7.1 / IN034/16 - Certification Enhancement / AEMO to table this proposed change at the next ITDF meeting. / AEMO / 17 Jan 2017
111.7.2 / IN034/16 - Certification Enhancement / AEMO to recirculate the GMI with a request for formal feedback. / AEMO / 15 Nov 2016
111.8.1 / Potential Consultations for Nov 2016 to Mar 2017 / AEMO to send out a draft schedule of proposed items and key dates. / AEMO / 30 Nov 2016
111.8.2 / GRCF prioritisation session at January 2017 / AEMO to send out its review of the Issue/Change register that has been prioritised. / AEMO / 17 Jan 2016
111.10.1 / IN033/16 - Remove an AEMO Redundant Provision / AEMO will reissue the paper on removing the redundant Clause 9.1(c) request feedback from the GRCF / AEMO / 18 Nov 2016
111.10.2 / IN033/16 - Remove an AEMO Redundant Provision / GRCF are invited to provide feedback on the paper regarding the redundant Clause 9.1(c) to AEMO (). / GRCF / 2 Dec 2016
111.11.1 / IN038/16 - Align requirements with the delivery of market reports generated by the system / AEMO to circulate the updated paper (to be treated as a GMI) and a date for feedback.
Secretariat note: This was e-mail by AEMO () on 8 Nov. / AEMO / Complete
111.11.2 / IN038/16 - Align requirements with the delivery of market reports generated by the system / GRCF are invited to provide feedback on the paper on the Align requirements with the delivery of market reports generated by the system to AEMO (). / GRCF / 21 Nov 2016
111.12.1 / Meter Fix Notification / Jemena to provide the proposed marked up changes to the build pack to accompany their GMI. / Jemena / 17 Jan 2017
111.13.1 / Section 12.A of Retail Market Procedures (NSW/ACT)– transitional provisions / AEMO will issue a notice to participants about transition provisions regarding extension of deliver timeframes for metering data as under Chapter 12A will fall away on 31 March 2017 / AEMO / 30 Nov 2016
Action items raised prior to meeting #111