AEMO’s System Security Market Framework Review
Aug 07, 2018
Audrey Zibelman, CEO of AEMO
AEMO’s System Security Market Framework Review

AEMO operates Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM), the interconnected power system in Australia’s eastern and south-eastern seaboard, and the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) and power system in Western Australia.

NEM, like power systems worldwide, is being transformed from a system dominated by large thermal power stations, to a system including a multitude of power generation resources and technologies of various sizes.

At the same time, customers are engaging with their electricity supply in new ways.

The energy transformation involves a shift from:

  • Homogenous to diverse supply resources.
  • Synchronous to non-synchronous generation.
  • A centralised to a decentralised system
  • Passive to active consumers.

Each of these trends acts to increase the variability of the power system.

AEMO’s challenge is to continually meet the needs of the power system, in the face of major structural changes and the resulting uncertainty across investment and operational timeframes.

AEMO has released the final guidelines and reports as required by the AEMC’s System Security Market Frameworks Review. This includes the latest Power System Model Guidelines, Power System Design and Setting Data Sheets, and the System Strength Impact Assessment Guidelines. As part of these changes to bolster power system security across the NEM, AEMO has completed a series of technical investigations and developed guidelines that provide greater clarity to existing and prospective Market Participants.

Prior to her appointment as CEO of AMEO since Monday, 20 March 2017, Ms Zibelman gained extensive experience in the public, private and not-for profit energy and electricity sectors in the United States, most recently having held the positions of Commissioner and Chair of the New York State Public Service Commission (NYPSC) where she was responsible for overseeing the regulation and safety of New York’s electric, gas, telephone, cable, water and steam utilities.

During her tenure at the NYPSC, Ms Zibelman led the design and implementation of extensive regulatory and retail market changes to modernise and transform the state’s electricity industry under New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's ‘Reforming the Energy Vision’ plan.

A recognised national and international expert in energy policy, markets and Smart Grid innovation, Ms Zibelman is a Founder and past President and Chief Executive Officer of Viridity Energy, Inc., which she formed after more than 25 years of electric utility industry leadership experience in both the public and private sectors.

Previously, Ms Zibelman was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GO15 member organisation, PJM, a regional transmission organisation responsible for operating the power grid and wholesale power market serving 14 states across the eastern United States.

Ms Zibelman also held legal and executive positions at Xcel Energy, served as General Counsel to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, and was Special Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

During her career, Ms Zibelman has served on numerous industry-related and non-profit boards, including, but not limited to the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Reliability Councils. Ms Zibelman’s board experience also includes Advisor to Secretary of Energy for the US Department of Energy and Advisory Council, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York State Planning Board and the New York State Emergency Planning Council.

Ms Zibelman holds an Executive MBA from the Carlson School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Pennsylvania State University and a JD/LLD-Doctor of Jurisprudence (Law) degree from Hamline University School of Law.

Winner of the 2016 Dive Awards: Policymaker of the Year by leading industry news publisher, Utility Dive: In November 2016, NY PSC Chair Audrey Zibelman was named the winner of the 2016 Dive Awards: Policymaker of the Year.