IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2021 - 88

Customers' acceptance of their DERs becoming part of a
smart and integrated energy system is central to maximizing
its potential. Customers need to be part of the journey that
takes DERs from being passive to becoming active participants
in the electricity system.
The need to start a conversation with consumers has also
been considered in materials developed to sit alongside the
technical roadmap publication. A video and a consumerfacing
website have been developed to explain this complex
challenge. The government-owned energy entities and
Energy Policy WA are working together to find the best way
to bring consumers along for the ride. Early actions include
broad messaging through mainstream media channels about
the transition to a future energy system that involves more
renewable energy and new ways of integrating DERs into the
power system and engaging with households. Utility campaigns
highlight new energy pilots and products, such as
community batteries. Energy Policy WA has started engaging
with interested consumers to slowly build community
knowledge and energy literacy.
Customer Protections
Energy Policy WA is undertaking a licensing framework
review to ensure a customer protection framework evolves
with the development of new business models and energy
service offerings in a high-DER future. This review aims
to ensure that consumers of behind-the-meter electricity
services are covered by robust customer protection arrangements.
In the first instance, it is proposed that a code of practice
will be developed for behind-the-meter generation and
storage service providers. It could be expanded in the future
to cover other emerging business models.
The management of customer data was also identified as
an important issue. On 26 November 2017, the Australian
government introduced the Consumer Data Right that gives
consumers greater access to and control over their data. This
is expected to apply to customer energy data in other parts
of Australia from late 2021. Western Australia will assess
the regulatory and policy arrangements for the Consumer
Data Right for the energy sector once current reforms in the
sector are substantively completed. This will ensure it is fit
for purpose and considers the specific ways in which consumers
with DERs engage with Western Australia's energy
systems in the future.
Conclusion
Western Australia has moved quickly to put an action plan
in place to support the transition of SWIS and regional
microgrids to a high-DER future. The state government's
ownership of major industry players for the residential sector
has facilitated this fast response. The isolated nature of
SWIS and the many microgrids has focused attention on
the problem.
Developing an action plan is only the first step. Successful
implementation will depend on getting the technology
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right as well as bringing customers along for the journey.
Consumer understanding of the end goal (e.g., integrating
more renewable energy at low cost) will help to build acceptance
of changes in how their DER is managed and how
it engages with the electricity system over time. This will
enable consumers to continue to install DERs while keeping
the electricity system reliable, secure, and affordable.
The need to closely engage customers has also been born
out in the Onslow DERMS project, which found that generation
management can gain customer acceptance if there is a
shared vision that has broad-base support.
For Further Reading
" Energy transformation taskforce, distributed energy roadmap, "
Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western Australia, Dec. 2019.
[Online]. Available: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/
distributed-energy-resources-roadmap
" Customer-facing website and video explainer, " Energy
Policy WA, Perth, Western Australia. Accessed: July 8, 2021.
[Online]. Available: www.brighterenergyfuture.wa.gov.au
" Energy transformation taskforce, distributed energy
roadmap-Appendix A regulatory settings summary, "
Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western Australia, Dec. 2019.
[Online]. Available: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/
distributed-energy-resources-roadmap
" Energy transformation taskforce, distributed energy
roadmap-Appendix B DER project stocktake, " Energy
Policy WA, Perth, Western Australia, Dec. 2019. [Online].
Available: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/distributed
-energy-resources-roadmap
" Energy transformation taskforce, distributed energy
roadmap-Information sheet, " Energy Policy WA, Perth,
Western Australia, Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western Australia,
Dec. 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.wa.gov
.au/government/distributed-energy-resources-roadmap
" Integrating utility-scale renewables and distributed energy
resources in the SWIS, " Australian Energy Market Operator,
Perth, Western Australia, Mar. 2019. [Online]. Available:
https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/
WEM/Security_and_Reliability/2019/Integrating-Utility
-scale-Renewables-and-DER-in-the-SWIS.pdf
Biographies
Wenona Hadingham is with Energy Policy WA, Perth,
Western Australia, 6000, Australia.
Kieran Rayney is with Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western
Australia, 6000, Australia.
Andrew Blaver is with Western Power, Perth, Western
Australia, 6000, Australia.
Brad Smart is with Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western
Australia, 6000, Australia.
Jai Thomas is with Energy Policy WA, Perth, Western
Australia, 6000, Australia.
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