Researchers
RESEARCHING THE NEM
The National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO) is the market operator of the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the system operator of the national grid. NEMMCO was established in 1996 to administer and manage the NEM, develop the market and continually improve its efficiency. The
governments of Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia
and Tasmania are members of NEMMCO. Each of these governments nominates a director to the
NEMMCO board.
The NEM is the wholesale market for electricity supply in the Australian Capital Territory and the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. It commenced operating on 13 December 1998. The NEM delivers electricity to market customers on an interconnected power system that stretches more than 4000 km from Port Douglas in Queensland to Port Lincoln in South Australia, and includes a sea-bed cable between Victoria and Tasmania. The NEM comprises 5 regions based on the State boundaries (NSW and the ACT form a single region), with the Snowy Hydro Scheme being classified as a region in its own right (called Snowy) making up the 6th region.
NEMMCO's website contains a broad range of information useful for those conducting research into the wholesale electricity industry.
For an overview of NEMMCO's activities and wholesale market operation, we have a selection of publications and annual reports.
For assistance with information regarding NEMMCO or the NEM you can contact NEMMCO's Information Centre on 1300 361 011 (toll free)
NEM MARKET DATA
As the market and system operator for the NEM, NEMMCO is the source of wholesale market data. Data is produced in a variety of formats and can be found in the Operational Market Data section of the website.
The data ranges from simple price and demand graphs or tables to a collection of files in csv file format containing in-depth details of market activities, forecast and outcomes. These files include information such as: dispatch, predispatch (and other demand forecasts), interconnector flow, generator bids, price and demand. Many of these files are difficult to interpret if one is unfamiliar with the NEM operations and processes, but the Information Centre can assist.
There are two types of data sets for price and demand : dispatch (5 minute) and trading (30 minute or spot). Generators are dispatched in 5 minute intervals, but the market is settled on the trading intervals (which are an average of the six 5 minute intervals in each half hour). All data is published in Eastern Standard Time, and all prices are exclusive of GST.
Most commonly accessed data sets include:
RESEARCHING SPECIFIC TOPICS IN THE NEM
Constraints
Constraints are numerical equations used by NEMMCO's dispatch engine (NEMDE) to represent physical limitations on the network.
Constraints are used in a variety of ways in operating the power system. There is no full list available of the actual constraints used as they change continully due to changes in generator and network conditions. A full understanding of constraints does require a technical understanding of power system operations and market processes.
Constraints documentation is distributed throughout the website depending upon which aspect of operations they refer to. To make it easier for those wishing to have a more in-depth look at a range of constraints related issues, a full listing of constraints related documents has been compiled here.
If you have areas of interest that we might help you with, please contact the Information Centre on 1300 361 011 (toll free).
