Western Power is seeking expressions of interest for Network Support Services (NSS) for the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) for the period 2026 to 2029. The services are required to manage capacity constraints and ensure feeder loading remains within planning limits. NSS providers will be responsible for energy supply or reduction of energy demand at the distribution high-voltage feeder level. The contract term is expected to be between 1 to 3 years, commencing from December 2026 and expiring on March 31, 2029. Activation requirements vary by location and feeder, with detailed specifications provided in the Ncess Service Specification. Queries can be submitted via email or the QA function in the Vendorpanel portal. Submissions are due by 5:00 PM AWST on March 30, 2026.
The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 5:00 PM AWST on March 30, 2026.
The bid notice details a monthly fixed fee and a monthly variable fee, with the total monthly fee being the sum of these two components.
The selection criteria include a valid submission, compliance with the specification, evidence of delivery dates, environmental approvals, project methodology, technical requirements, Western Australian industry participation, and price, evaluated on a value for money basis.
Potential Ncess providers must be capable of delivering energy supply solutions or reducing energy demand at the distribution high-voltage feeder level. They must also comply with all applicable ESM rules and may be subject to due diligence reviews.
In the event the service is unavailable for activation under the Ncess contract, there will be a reduction in payments by Western Power depending on the duration of the unavailability.
The supplier query cutoff date is Monday, March 23, 2026, 06:00 AM E. South America Standard Time.