Category: Archive

Reference: Macquarie Generation Annual Report 2004/2005. Contact:
Macquarie Generation Corporate Office, 34 Griffiths Road, Lambton NSW
2299, ph: (02) 4968

7499, website: http://www.macgen.com.au

Erisk Net, 14/12/2005

6-week accreditation process: All power stations accredited in
this period were assessed within 6 weeks of receipt of all necessary
information. The ORER aims to achieve the internal performance
indicator of all applications for accreditation finalised within 6
weeks of the date of last received information. However, the total
assessment time may take longer than 6 weeks where additional
information, to complete the assessment, is required from the applicant.

Reference: Financial Annual Report, Australian Government, Office of
the Renewable Energy Regulator. Contact: Manager, Office of the
Renewable Energy Regulator, GPO Box 621, CANBERRA ACT 2601, ph: (02)
6274 1416, fax: (02) 6274 1725

Erisk Net, 13/12/2005

New REC registry named: The ORER’s contract with the Marketplace
Company to support the REC Registry expires in December 2005. In March
2005 the office awarded a contract to develop a new REC Registry to
AusRegistry International. The migration from the old system to the new
system and the scheduled launch of the new system in late 2005 is being
pursued as a key strategic objective.

ORER policy focus: The ORER expects to continue to work with
industry to enhance their understanding and participation in the MRET,
The ORER also intends to maintain close links with the DEH as it works
with the Government to implement any changes arising from the review of
the operation of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (the
Tambling review titled Renewable Opportunities), the energy statement
Securing Australia’s Energy Future and any other relevant policies
which may arise.

Reference: Financial Annual Report, Australian Government, Office of
the Renewable Energy Regulator. Contact: Manager, Office of the
Renewable Energy Regulator, GPO Box 621, CANBERRA ACT 2601, ph: (02)
6274 1416, fax: (02) 6274 1725

Erisk Net, 13/12/2005

Friday, 30 December: Top prices of
$2800.09-$4187.69/MWh in multiple spike intervals in NSW, Vic, SA, Qld
and Snowy as heatwave hits Adelaide and Melbourne

Top prices of between $2800.09-$4187.69/MWh were recorded in multiple
spike intervals in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Snowy
on Friday, 30 December.

SA has 23 spike intervals: South Australia had spikes in 23 of
the 48 30-minute trading intervals. NSW, Victoria and Snowy had spikes
in 11 trading intervals and Queensland in seven.

Heatwave causes demand surge: The spikes occurred on a day when
system-wide maximum demand surged by 1650MW (5.9 per cent) to 29,780MW,
largely due to big increases resulting from the heatwave in South
Australia and Victoria. Adelaide had a top temperature of 41 degrees
and Melbourne 39 degrees.

Another direction to Directlink: There were also continuing
problems with NSW supply and NEMMCO directed the Queensland-NSW
Directlink interconnector to be available for dispatch, as well as
offloading the 132kV feeder 9W2 to maintain power system security.
NEMMCO also forecast a lack of reserve level one (LOR1) for three hours
30 minutes in South Australia and for one hour in NSW.

How prices moved in the regions: The following table shows how prices moved during the spike intervals in the five regions:

Reference: National Price for NSW, Victoria, South Australia,
Queensland and Snowy for one day, Friday 30 December, in Price/Demand
section of Erisk Net – Realtime NEM Data.

Impact fairly minimal: “Any impact on consumers would be fairly
minimal and could eventually be offset by a focus on conservation and
renewable sources of energy,” said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for
Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Business groups predict higher costs: However, business groups
such as the New England Council and the American Council for Capital
Formation said it would boost costs much more.

Possible delays to plans: Even if an announcement on the RGGI
came soon, several states still have to push the plan through their
legislatures, which could lead to delays.

Similar plans in western states: Environmentalists and carbon
emissions brokers were anxious to see RGGI operate because they hoped
it would link with similar plans being developed in western states and
could be a model for a future federal plan.

Utilities divides: Utilities such as Public Service Enterprise
Group and KeySpan Corp. support RGGI, while Dominion Resources Inc. and
NRG Energy oppose t it.

Competitive advantage: “Some companies believe that global
warming is not going away and believe they can get competitive
advantage by getting prepared (for a future national plan) through
RGGI,” said Dale Bryk, an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense
Council, who is advising the states,

Benefit for utilities with nuclear power: Companies that have
nuclear power in their electricity portfolio could benefit from the
plan as their plants emitted very little CO2. But officials say RGGI
was unlikely to spur the building of new nuclear plants as the cuts it
would require were too modest.

Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate
Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change
Control (UNFCCC). 20 December. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn.
Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
http://www.unfccc.int

Erisk Net, 29/12/2005