We have published our 2016/17 work programme. The work programme is a non-statutory planning document that gives indicative information about our major projects for the year ahead. It supports our 2016/17 Statement of Performance Expectations (SPE), which includes our top priority projects.

When developing this work programme we considered submissions from stakeholders on our consultation on the 2016/17 appropriations and work programme. We thank those who provided feedback.

Our SPE identifies the implications of evolving technology as likely to have a significant impact on the electricity sector over the medium term. We have re-oriented the structure and presentation of the work programme to take into account this strategic focus in the SPE. 

In particular, we consider evolving technologies and innovative business models are increasingly blurring the traditional demarcation between retail market, wholesale market and transport activities. We are concerned that the current market Code and market facilitation measures, market administration and operational processes and its compliance arrangements—developed when the traditional ‘bulk supply’ approach was prevalent—may inhibit mass-market forms of generating, storing, transporting and purchasing electricity. We are keen to remove barriers to these developments, including removing barriers to residential consumers purchasing directly from the wholesale electricity market or from local generators.

With this in mind, the new market development programmes for 2016/17 are: 

  • Programme A: evolving technologies and business models
  • Programme B: consumer choice and competition
  • Programme C: pricing and cost-allocation
  • Programme D: risk and risk management
  • Programme E: operational efficiencies.

Although some new projects are included in Programme A, we already had several projects underway that are now included in Programme A. Further detail about the new market development programmes is provided in the work programme.