Overview - Rule and Procedure Change
Market Rules
The IMO maintains and develops the Market Rules.
A rule change proposal can be processed using either a Standard process or a Fast Track process.
The Standard rule change process includes two rounds of consultation and will usually take around 19 weeks. The second round involves consultation on a draft report published by the IMO prior to the publication of a final report. In consulting on a rule change proposal, the IMO may convene the Market Advisory Committee, meet with interested parties, procure technical advisers, or establish a technical working group drawing on industry representatives if this is considered necessary to appropriately develop or evaluate changes.
The Fast Track process, which is a shorter process that normally takes around 5 weeks to complete, is used when the proposed change is:
- of minor or procedural nature;
- required to correct a manifest error;
- urgently required and is essential for the safe, effective and reliable operation of the market or the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
All Rule Changes progressed by the IMO can be found here.
The IMO's decision on whether to accept a rule change proposal and its reasons will be published, together with a time and date when accepted rule changes will come into force.
If the Rule Change relates to a protected provision (see Market Rule 2.8.13), the IMO will seek the Minister's approval.
Any person may make a rule change proposal by filling in and submitting a Rule Change Proposal Form.
Prior to the commencement of the formal Rule Change Process on 15 December 2006, the Minister for Energy was responsible for amendments to the Rules. These amendments can be found on the Office of Energy's website.
Market Procedures
The IMO develops and changes procedures that relate to market operation and administrative market matters, while System Management develops operational procedures pertaining to short and medium system planning, security and reliability, and dispatch. The IMO is responsible for approving all procedures.
Both the IMO and System Management are subject to the same process for developing new procedures or making changes to existing procedures. Once either the IMO or System Management proposes a change, the IMO publishes a procedure change proposal, requests submissions from the public, and may convene the Market Advisory Committee.
Procedures have more process-related detail than the Market Rules and are expected to be subject to relatively frequent refinements and updates.
The issues addressed in the Procedures could be quite technical and specialised, so the Market Advisory Committee has decided to convene Working Groups to study these issues. Where the change relates to the IMO's procedures, the IMO prepares a report on the Procedure Change Proposal which includes the amended wording, feedback received on the change, and a time and date for the new Procedure to come into force. Where the change relates to System Management's procedures, System Management prepares the report, and must submit the report to the IMO.
The current versions of Market Procedures can be found here.
All Procedure Changes progressed by the IMO or System Management are available here.Under the Market Rules only the IMO or System Management can initiate a Procedure Change Process. However Rule Participants may approach the IMO or System Management, as applicable, with suggested changes to Procedures. A suggestion form is available here.
This document is published in accordance with clause 10.5.1 (b) of the Market Rules. |
