1. Energy Emergency Response in Australia
Energy Security Branch
12th May 2016

2. What is energy security?
Australian definition
Adequate, reliable and competitively priced supply of energy to support economic and social development
Adequate - sufficient energy
Reliable - minimal disruptions
Competitively priced - from perspective of energy users and energy suppliers

3. Australia’s approach to energy security
Role of Government
Establish the market rules
Monitor and assess the markets
Operate major electricity and gas markets
Emergency response (planning, implementation)

4. Energy Emergency Policy
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science is responsible for energy emergency policy at the federal level
Australia looks to the market to respond before government intervention, subject to the characteristics of the situation
The Australian Government also works closely with State and Territory governments and the energy supply industry through various emergency committees to develop emergency response policies and plans, including:
National Electricity Market Emergency Management Forum (NEMEMF)
National Gas Emergency Response Advisory Committee (NGERAC)
National Oil Supply Emergency Committee (NOSEC)

5. Electricity Emergency Response
This is primarily a physical incident that can be dealt with by local resources without any additional assistance. A site or control room supervisor normally manages this level of incident as part of their normal job function.
Level 1 – Local incident
A local emergency noticeably affects the participants ability to deliver services. An operational line manager based at or near the control room generally manages theis type of incident.
Level 2 – Local emergency
Involves a single industry participant had has a moderate to severe impact on other industry participants. An executive Emergency Manager from the relevant NEM participant generally manages this type of emergency.
Level 3 – Widespread emergency
The impact of this emergency goes well beyond a single industry participant or jurisdiction. The overall system integrity is being impacted and requires a coordinated response of multiple industry participants.
Level 4 – AEMO co-ordinated response
The actual or potential impact of the power system emergency escalates to the point that a jurisdiction decides to intervene in normal market operations by use of its energy emergency powers.
Level 5 – Jurisdictional direction

6. Natural Gas Emergency Policy
National Gas Emergency Response Advisory Committee:
Established by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the jurisdictions
Regularly updates its Interruption to Supply Process
Conducts regular discussion exercises
Produces a Contingency Planning Report

7. National Liquid Fuel Emergency Framework
Jurisdictional legislation – State/Territory Governments will respond in the first instance to an emergency within their boundaries
Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984 (LFE Act) – equips the Commonwealth Government with the authority needed to manage a national liquid fuel emergency
Intergovernmental Agreement – promotes effective coordination between Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments in implementing the LFE Act and National Liquid Fuel Emergency Response Plan (NLFERP)
Council Of Australian Governments
COAG Energy Council
National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee (NOSEC)

8. National Liquid Fuel Emergency Response Plan
Details the background policy and operational aspects of managing a national liquid fuel emergency
Sets out roles and responsibilities for key stakeholders as well as agreed communications principles
Includes statements about core operational policies including demand restraint, bulk allocation and retail rationing

9. Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Industry House
10 Binara Street
Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia
Telephone