AEMO changes mind, and directs Murray instead … but this was also short-lived?!

Less than an hour ago, we noted how ‘AEMO issues directions to units at Jeeralang Power Station, for System Strength in Victoria (Wednesday 15th October 2025)’ … with respect to yesterday’s ‘AEMO flags possible intervention tomorrow (Wed 15th Oct 2025) for System Strength in Victoria’.

 

However, at 08:41 the AEMO issued three follow-on instructions to cancel those notices, because it decided to direct Murray to operate in synchronous condenser mode at two units, as follows (though note that this, also, seems to have been short-lived?!) ….

 

MURR2-3 MURRAY2 MURR2-2 MURRAY2

Firstly there was via MN129616 at 08:49:

‘——————————————————————-
MARKET NOTICE
——————————————————————-

From :              AEMO
To   :              NEMITWEB1
Creation Date :     15/10/2025     08:49:14

——————————————————————-

Notice ID               :         129616
Notice Type ID          :         MARKET INTERVENTION
Notice Type Description :         Reserve Contract / Direction / Instruction
Issue Date              :         15/10/2025
External Reference      :         Direction – VIC region to Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-3 MURRAY2

——————————————————————-

Reason :

AEMO ELECTRICITY MARKET NOTICE

Direction – VIC region to Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-3 MURRAY2

Refer to Market Notice 129599

In accordance with section 116 of the National Electricity Law, AEMO is issuing a direction to Snowy Hydro Limited. For the purposes of the National Electricity Rules this is a direction under clause 4.8.9(a1)(1).

Direction issued to:  Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-3 MURRAY2 at 0845 hrs 15/10/2025
Type of resource: generating unit operating as synchronous condenser
Required actions: Synchronise and follow dispatch targets at 0900 hrs 15/10/2025
Services provided: System Strength, Voltage support is NOT required as part of this direction.
Circumstances necessitating the Direction:System Strength
Circumstances necessitating the Direction additional detail: intervention is required to maintain the power system in a secure operating state
Expected duration: 0400 hrs 16/10/2025 / further notice.

Snowy Hydro Limited does not incur any civil monetary liability for a relevant action taken in accordance with this direction unless the action is taken in bad faith.

Manager NEM Real Time Operations

——————————————————————-
END OF REPORT
——————————————————————-’

… and then there was MN129617 at 08:49:

‘——————————————————————-
MARKET NOTICE
——————————————————————-

From :              AEMO
To   :              NEMITWEB1
Creation Date :     15/10/2025     08:49:14

——————————————————————-

Notice ID               :         129617
Notice Type ID          :         MARKET INTERVENTION
Notice Type Description :         Reserve Contract / Direction / Instruction
Issue Date              :         15/10/2025
External Reference      :         Direction – VIC region to Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-2 MURRAY2

——————————————————————-

Reason :

AEMO ELECTRICITY MARKET NOTICE

Direction – VIC region to Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-2 MURRAY2

Refer to Market Notice 129599

In accordance with section 116 of the National Electricity Law, AEMO is issuing a direction to Snowy Hydro Limited. For the purposes of the National Electricity Rules this is a direction under clause 4.8.9(a1)(1).

Direction issued to:  Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-2 MURRAY2 at 0845 hrs 15/10/2025
Type of resource: generating unit operating as synchronous condenser
Required actions: Synchronise and follow dispatch targets at 0900 hrs 15/10/2025
Services provided: System Strength, Voltage support is NOT required as part of this direction.
Circumstances necessitating the Direction:System Strength
Circumstances necessitating the Direction additional detail: intervention is required to maintain the power system in a secure operating state
Expected duration: 0400 hrs 16/10/2025 / further notice.

Snowy Hydro Limited does not incur any civil monetary liability for a relevant action taken in accordance with this direction unless the action is taken in bad faith.

Manager NEM Real Time Operations

——————————————————————-
END OF REPORT
——————————————————————-’

 

 

But these directions were also cancelled … though not sure what replaced them?

However, about an hour later, there were a series of Market Notices that suggested the above directions were cancelled.  There were 3 x Market Notices issued in quick succession:

 

MURR2-3 MURRAY2 MURR2-2 MURRAY2

Firstly there was via MN129616 at 08:49:

——————————————————————-
MARKET NOTICE
——————————————————————-

From : AEMO
To : NEMITWEB1
Creation Date : 15/10/2025 09:43:01

——————————————————————-

Notice ID : 129621
Notice Type ID : MARKET INTERVENTION
Notice Type Description : Reserve Contract / Direction / Instruction
Issue Date : 15/10/2025
External Reference : Cancellation: Direction issued to: Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-3 MURRAY2

——————————————————————-

Reason :

AEMO ELECTRICITY MARKET NOTICE

Cancellation: Direction issued to: Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-3 MURRAY2

Refer to Market Notice 129616

Direction is cancelled from: 0933 hrs 15/10/2025

Manager NEM Real Time Operations

——————————————————————-
END OF REPORT
——————————————————————--’

At 09:42 there was MN129620 as follows:

——————————————————————-
MARKET NOTICE
——————————————————————-

From : AEMO
To : NEMITWEB1
Creation Date : 15/10/2025 09:42:59

——————————————————————-

Notice ID : 129620
Notice Type ID : MARKET INTERVENTION
Notice Type Description : Reserve Contract / Direction / Instruction
Issue Date : 15/10/2025
External Reference : Cancellation: Direction issued to: Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-2 MURRAY2

——————————————————————-

Reason :

AEMO ELECTRICITY MARKET NOTICE

Cancellation: Direction issued to: Snowy Hydro Limited – MURR2-2 MURRAY2

Refer to Market Notice 129617

Direction is cancelled from: 0933 hrs 15/10/2025

Manager NEM Real Time Operations

——————————————————————-
END OF REPORT
——————————————————————-

 

… which was then followed with MN129623:

‘——————————————————————-
MARKET NOTICE
——————————————————————-

From : AEMO
To : NEMITWEB1
Creation Date : 15/10/2025 09:46:39

——————————————————————-

Notice ID : 129623
Notice Type ID : MARKET INTERVENTION
Notice Type Description : Reserve Contract / Direction / Instruction
Issue Date : 15/10/2025
External Reference : Cancellation – AEMO Intervention Event – VIC region 15/10/2025

——————————————————————-

Reason :

AEMO ELECTRICITY MARKET NOTICE

Cancellation – AEMO Intervention Event – VIC region 15/10/2025

Refer to Market Notice 129599

The AEMO Intervention Event and all associated directions are cancelled from 0933 hrs on 15/10/2025.

Manager NEM Real Time Operations

——————————————————————-
END OF REPORT
——————————————————————-‘

 

In this case, however, I am not sure what provisions were put in place to provide for System Strength:

1)   Given the earlier directions to Jeeralang had already cancelled at ~08:41; and

2)  Given that LYA4 was now offline.

 

… or did the AEMO re-calculate and determine a boost was no longer required?


About the Author

Paul McArdle
Paul was one of the founders of Global-Roam in February 2000. He is currently the CEO of the company and the principal author of WattClarity. Writing for WattClarity has become a natural extension of his work in understanding the electricity market, enabling him to lead the team in developing better software for clients. Before co-founding the company, Paul worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Queensland Electricity Commission in the early 1990s. He also gained international experience in Japan, the United States, Canada, the UK, and Argentina as part of his ES Cornwall Memorial Scholarship.

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