Implementation Assessments

What is an Implementation Assessment?

An Implementation Assessment (IA) is a structured description of AEMO’s initial approach to implementing a significant change or set of changes. An IA aims to provide EPWA and Rule Participants with an understanding of:

• How AEMO proposes to implement the change(s).
• The expected impacts on AEMO’s IT systems and processes and on those of other Rule Participants.
• The overall scale, duration and indicative cost of the initiative or project.

Reason for introduction

AEMO has several aims in introducing IAs into the WEM, including to support:

• Timely feedback on proposed implementation approaches;
• A clearer, shared understanding of the practical changes, impacts and effort associated with implementing new initiatives and projects;
• Better informed planning by Rule Participants likely to be affected by the changes.

Information provided in an IA

IAs describe a given initiative in terms that allow WEM stakeholders to understand the implications of a change for business or operations. Wherever possible, AEMO will include the following information in an IA.

Problem statement: an explanation of the policy or operational goal of the project, typically framed in terms of the problem that the project or initiative seeks to address.

Design Overview: a summary of the solution to address the problem (i.e. the change) including a basic overview of the future state.

AEMO Procedure impacts: a summary of any changes anticipated to AEMO’s WEM Procedures.

AEMO system impacts: a description of how relevant parts of AEMO’s system architecture will look under the future state and a summary of key changes such as new or modified applications; data changes (e.g. schemas changes, data volume changes); changes to technical specifications; etc

Rule Participant impacts: a summary of any material impacts anticipated for Western Power or Market Participants, covering both system and process changes.

Implementation pathway: an indicative timeline and some discussion regarding key risks and mitigations

Other information about IAs

IAs will be published with a short reference code that will be cited in the WEM Implementation Roadmap for convenient cross referencing.

AEMO aims to produce and publish an IA for new initiatives to be delivered by the WA Reform Program, which satisfy materiality criteria agreed with the Major Projects Working Group. While we aim to publish IAs as part of the preliminary evaluation of a potential new project we anticipate that there will be some delays initially as we embed the new process and work through the backlog.

Find an IA

Published IAs are available below.

* Reference codes and project codes may be useful for the purposes of seeking updates on the cost and timing of projects included in the WEM Implementation Roadmap.