An interim ‘Conference Wrap’ (Part 2) from 2026 winter Conference Season
With four of our team attending CEC ACES in Sydney this coming week, here's an interim guide to 14 observations we've made in Conference Season for Winter 2026 (to date).
Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism (WDRM)
Submissions due today (Thu 14th Aug 2025) on the AEMC draft report ‘Review of WDRM’
A belated note that the AEMC published a draft report on their review of the (nearly 4 year old) WDRM initiative - and noting that submissions close today.
Wholesale Demand Response Capacity in June 2025
WDR capacity has increased by 23 MW since our last look, and much of it happened recently.
An initial review of demand response on Wednesday 11 June 2025
Wednesday evening 11th June 2025 was a period of tight supply-demand balance, hence energy price volatility – and so this article reviews the response of the demand-side.
AEMC underway with review of the Centralised Negawatt Dispatch Mechanism (a.k.a. the WDRM), and consultation closed
Submissions at the AEMC already closed over a week ago, with respect to their review of WDRM. Here's some starting thoughts ...
Demand Response as Market Participant: Square Peg in Round Hole?
A year ago we reviewed the market outcomes of wholesale demand response (WDR) in the NEM. It’s been 2 years now, providing a new milestone from which to review participation and impact. Can we say yet, whether the mechanism is a square peg in a...
With the 2023 ESOO report, some real head scratching about Demand Response!
The 2023 ESOO contains some data, and comments, about Demand Response that have us scratching our heads...
Wholesale Demand Response in the NEM – One year on by the numbers
Casting a look over wholesale demand response in the NEM, one year on, how has participation grown and the capability been used?
How much wholesale demand response was dispatched in last night’s supply crunch?
A look to see how far WDR has come since it was introduced in October, and to what extent the units registered under the mechanism are helping to alleviate supply-demand tightness during events like last night.
What Demand-Side Responses can we see in QLD’s heatwave of Tue 1st February and Wed 2nd February 2022?
Taking a look on the demand side of the equation, to see what was visible of demand side responses during the tight supply/demand balance period in Queensland on Tuesday 1st April 2022.
Demand response dispatched on January 31 2022 in Victoria
Recent WDR activity on January 31 took advantage of the spicy Victorian wholesale energy prices that eventuated in the late afternoon and early evening under unusual circumstances.
How many Negawatts have been dispatched through the WDRM since its introduction?
A very brief look into how many units have been registered for the WDRM, and how many MW have been dispatched since the rule change was implemented roughly two months ago.
Keeping an eye out, for Negawatts
It's Sunday 24th October 2021 and the AEMO's new Centralised Negawatt Dispatch Mechanism has started operations. What can we see?
Potential Tripwire #3 When is a load not a load?
A feature of the upcoming EMMS technical specification that distinguishes demand response units from scheduled loads could impact some users of NEM data, if left unmanaged.
Three potential tripwires looming in October 2021, for those who are not wary
A short article, flagging three potential tripwires we'd like to ensure NEM participants and other stakeholders are aware of in the lead-up to two significant market changes from October 2021.
Will your 10 out of 10 baseline be eligible?
A threshold for accuracy and threshold for bias has been set to evaluate whether a load’s baseline methodology is acceptable for the Wholesale Demand Response mechanism. Just prior to the publication of the Wholesale Demand Response Guidelines (final) the draft report and determination on the...
Initial thoughts on AEMO’s draft Guidelines for Wholesale Demand Response (WDR)
A week ago (Thursday 21st Jan 2021) we received an email from AEMO following the publication of Draft Guidelines for the Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism. We share some thoughts here today.
Making demand response work with negative prices
A recent development over in the WEM (paying energy users to consume, when there's too much solar and wind) highlights the lack of foresight in the NEM ... where we've implemented a significant reform (yet to start) that will do nothing to address negative prices.
The wholesale demand response train is approaching the platform
Considerations on how key aspects of the upcoming wholesale mechanism might dictate how much response capability will be realised once the mechanism goes live before Summer 2021-22
How have you already overcome reported barriers to participating in Demand Response in the National Electricity Market?
University of Queensland PhD candidate, Nicole Lashmar, is conducting a research project which aims to identify the motivations, risks and opportunities for businesses when deciding to participate in demand response programs.