What is NCESS procurement in WA?

NCESS procurement is a process approved by the Coordinator of Energy to buy non-network services that support reliability at lower cost than new infrastructure. It focuses on targeted feeders where local capacity can solve constraints. Providers can include batteries, demand response, and aggregators that deliver measurable support during defined availability periods.

How much capacity is Western Power seeking?

Capacity needs start at 18.9 MW in 2026-27 and rise to 44.4 MW by 2028-29 across 23 feeders. The staged ramp lets providers plan deployments, aggregate portfolios, and commit to multi-year service delivery that aligns with local demand peaks and critical events in the South West Interconnected System.

Who can participate in Network Support Services?

Likely participants include behind-the-meter and community batteries, commercial and industrial demand response, embedded generators, EV smart charging, and VPP aggregators. Successful bids will match feeder locations, response speed, duration, telemetry, and availability windows, while offering reliable performance under measurement and verification requirements.

How does the fauna protection program affect investors?

Wildlife protection, including possum and bird guards, reduces fault risks and unplanned interruptions on targeted assets. Fewer outages can improve contracted performance, lower penalties, and raise confidence in long-term operations. It complements non-network services by strengthening reliability on feeders where distributed assets will be delivering grid support.

Global Market Insights

Western Power January 17: WA to Procure DER Grid Support on 23 Feeders

ByHuzaifa Zahoor January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

Western Power has received approval from WA’s Coordinator of Energy to run an NCESS procurement for non-network grid support across 23 feeders in the SWIS. Capacity needs start at 18.9 MW in 2026-27 and ramp to 44.4 MW by 2028-29, creating new revenue for batteries, demand response and DER aggregators. For investors, this is a timely way to serve SWIS peak demand and defer traditional upgrades. In parallel, a fauna-protection program aims to cut wildlife outages, supporting reliability for participants and service providers across Western Australia.