Register as a Demand Response Service Provider

This page outlines the requirements for registering as a Demand Response Service Provider (DRSP) in the National Electricity Market (NEM). 

A DRSP delivers:  

• market ancillary services in accordance with the National Electricity Rules and AEMO’s market ancillary services specifications, by classifying plant at market connection points as Ancillary Service Units (ASU) and offering it into FCAS markets.
• wholesale demand response in accordance with the National Electricity Rules and the Wholesale Demand Response Guidelines by allowing large retail customers to enter into a contract with a DRSP to provide demand response by reducing consumption.
• A DRSP need not be the retail customer’s retailer. In practice, this may mean that while a retail customer has a retail supply contract with a retailer (market customer or integrated resource provider), a retail customer may also have a separate contract with a DRSP to provide ancillary services or wholesale demand response.

This page also provides information for participants who are already registered as a DRSP about classifying additional plant as an ancillary service unit or qualifying load as a wholesale demand response unit.  

Note: Once you have been approved as a DRSP, to classify ancillary service units (ASU) or wholesale demand response units (WDRU), you will be required to manage your ASU and WDRUs through the Portfolio Management System.  

Registration documents 

Please identify which set of documents you need to submit to AEMO to register as a DRSP and classify plant at a market connection point as ancillary services unit or classify a qualifying load as a wholesale demand response unit.  

1. These are the documents needed to register as a DRSP

The following documents must also be submitted to AEMO if applying to Register as a DRSP to classify as a Wholesale Demand Response Unit. They are not required if you are applying to register as a DRSP to classify ASU.

The following documents must also be submitted to AEMO if applying to Register as a DRSP to classify plant as Ancillary Service Unit. They are not required if you are applying to register as a DRSP to classify WDRU.

2. These are the documents if you are already registered as a DRSP and want to classify new or amend ASU:

The following must be submitted to AEMO, using the Portfolio Management System.

Please note a Market Customer may also classify plant at their market connection points as ancillary service units.

3. These are the documents if you are already registered as a DRSP and want to classify new or amend WDRU. 

The following must be submitted to AEMO, using the Portfolio Management System.

Supporting documents

Any document shown in this section is required in support of your application or to assist.

Credit support

Participants may need to provide credit support to AEMO. All Financial guarantees must be in the prescribed format. AEMO advises applicants to contact prudentials@aemo.com.au to discuss requirements prior to completing the AEMO Guarantee Pro Forma. You must submit an original signed AEMO Guarantee Pro Forma with your registration application. 

The Credit support management guide contains information on AEMO's credit support processes and participant obligations.

Trustee deed

Where the Applicant is acting in a trustee capacity, they must complete and return the following Trustee Deed form. No changes can be made to the Trustee Deed other than the completion of details where highlighted.

When completing the form, a number of fields will update automatically when printed. To update the fields without printing, please press <Ctrl> + ‘P’ to simulate printing, then press <Esc> to return to the document without printing.

Regional Thresholds

AEMO periodically determines maximum thresholds for the regional amount of WDR without real-time telemetry that can be dispatched in a given dispatch interval. See section 3.2 of the WDR Guidelines for further details.

The regional aggregate maximum response capacity of currently registered WDR units without real-time telemetry is published daily to Nemweb here.

Current and historical thresholds are provided in the document below.

The Baseline Methodology Register

The Baseline Methodology Register outlines the key baseline settings for each baseline methodology available under the wholesale demand response mechanism. 

DRSPs currently have a choice between 4 baseline methodologies. They are based on the CAISO “10 of 10” framework and are differentiated by day type: 

1. All Days Baseline Methodology 
2. Business Days Baseline Methodology 
3. Non-Business Days Baseline Methodology 
4. Business + Non-Business Days Composite Baseline Methodology