VIOTAS trial waiver application

Overview

The AER is currently considering a trial waiver application from VIOTAS. Consultation on this trial closes 10 April 2026. Submissions to this consultation should be lodged at the following email address: regulatorysandbox@aer.gov.au.

VIOTAS, a global company providing demand response services to commercial and industrial (C&I) energy consumers, seeks a trial waiver from the AER to enable participation in the Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism (WDRM) of loads that have multiple, electrically interconnected connection points. Currently, only large C&I sites with one connection point to the grid are eligible to participate in wholesale demand response.

Specifically, VIOTAS seeks a trial waiver of up to 5 years from clause 2.3.6(m)(1)(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER), which prohibits participation in the WDRM of loads which have multiple, electrically interconnected connection points. Through the proposed trial, VIOTAS seeks to enable greater WDRM participation with loads from up to 20 trial sites (all large C&I customers) which have multiple connection points to the grid. The specific number and type of sites, which are yet to be determined, may be located in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

The WDRM is a relatively recent addition to the NEM and commenced operation on 24 October 2021. The WDRM is currently the only market mechanism in the NEM wholesale market that facilitates demand response, that is, payment for reducing load. It allows entities other than the primary retailer to participate directly in the electricity market, by permitting demand response service providers to offer demand response as a service into the NEM, where it can be dispatched in the same way as generators. The idea behind the WDRM is that demand response can help lower prices and keep the grid stable during peak times, which benefits all electricity consumers.

A key aim of the trial project is to demonstrate that energy consumer sites with multiple, electrically interconnected connection points can successfully participate in WDR without significant changes to AEMO systems.

Below is the consultation notice (which sets out a number of questions that the AER is seeking feedback from stakeholders in relation to), and VIOTAS' application and supporting document. When submissions are received, all public submissions will be published here also.  

VIOTAS' proposal forms part of the AER's demand-led sandboxing function.