Power System Security and Reliability Standards Review

The Coordinator of Energy (Coordinator), in consultation with a Market Advisory Committee (MAC) Working Group, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Western Power is progressing the Power System Security and Reliability (PSSR) Standards Review in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

The purpose of the Review is to develop a consistent, single end-to-end PSSR Standard for the SWIS under a centralised governance framework that will be implemented in the Electricity System and Market (ESM) Rules. 

The MAC established the PSSR Standards Working Group to support the Review. Papers and detailed minutes of the working group meetings are published on the PSSR Standards Working Group webpage and the relevant MAC papers and minutes are available on the MAC webpage at Market Advisory Committee. 

As part of the review process, DEED published a Consultation Paper in June 2025, followed by a Western Power Technical Paper in December 2025. Among other proposals, these papers included reforms intended to:

• reduce barriers to connecting inverter-based technologies by clarifying grid‑forming (GFM) inverter technical requirements and refining performance standards to better recognise the capabilities and operational characteristics of modern inverter-based resources; and
• establish a coordinated and centralised system strength framework for the SWIS, including clearer roles, responsibilities and processes for identifying and addressing current and forecast system strength shortfalls.

Based on stakeholder feedback, an Information Paper and Exposure Draft published on 20 August 2026 outlines the relevant review outcomes and draft ESM Amending Rules to implement those reforms, including:

• establishing a Forecast and Planning Coordination Group, chaired by the Coordinator of Energy and comprising representatives from AEMO and Western Power, to align forecasting and planning approaches and methodologies;
• clear roles and responsibilities, with AEMO responsible for forecasting system strength shortfalls and Western Power responsible for procuring network and non-network solutions to address shortfalls; and 
• updated technical requirements for grid-following (GFL) and GFM inverter-based resources (IBRs).

A further Consultation Paper, published 20 August 2026 that builds on the above review outcomes and seeks stakeholder views on additional, targeted measures to complement them. In particular:

• a proposed regulatory incentives framework to minimise system strength shortfalls, and reduce the cost of any procurement of solutions by Western Power;
• guidance on how hybrid systems combining GFM and GFL technologies will be assessed during connection or relevant modification;
• requiring existing participants to provide models to improve whole-of-system modelling and planning; and
• enabling Western Power to require changes to control settings, enhancing the scope of existing provisions, to maintain system stability as IBR penetration increases. 

Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholders are invited to provide written submissions on the Exposure Draft and Consultation Paper by 5:00 pm (AWST) 21 September 2026 by emailing energymarkets@deed.wa.gov.au

Please note:

• late submissions may not be considered; and
• submissions will be published on the DEED’s website unless confidentiality is specifically requested.

Relevant Documents:

PSSR Standards Review – 20 August 2026 – Information Paper

PSSR Standard Review – 20 August 2026 - Exposure Draft of Electricity System and Market Amending Rules 

PSSR Standards Review – 20 August 2026 – Consultation Paper

Previous consultation papers 

DEED has previously sought stakeholder feedback on proposed review outcomes from the PSSR Standards Review through three consultation papers. 

• 19 June 2025 – Consultation Paper 
• 30 September 2025 – Further Consultation Paper – Proposal 20
• 20 December 2025 – Western Power Technical Paper

These previous consultations are outlined below.