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Software Specifications

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Transpower as System Operator provides software specifications for core market system solvers.  Software specifications are used as the basis for software audits and by industry participants to assist in their understanding of how the Wholesale Electricity Market functions.

RMT Specification

This document is the functional specification for the System Operator’s Reserve Management Tool (RMT). This application software is used by the System Operator to calculate the instantaneous reserves required to meet the Reserve Management Objective.

Link/Version Date Short Description of Changes
RMT Specification [ pdf 626.62 KB ] (version 8) 14 May 2021 Addition of sections 3.3 to 3.6 to clarify functionality within RMT
Section 3.7 : clarification for AOPO charges that ‘larger’ = larger cost
RMT Enhancements Project additions :
  • 3.2.5 Intermittent variability parameter
  • 3.2.8 FIR feasible from schedule
  • 3.3.1 Series Solve (CE before ECE)
  • 3.4.2 Untripped AUFLS for NFR SIR
  • 3.5 SIR model for CE
  • 3.6.2 Untripped AUFLS for NFR FIR
  • 3.6.3 Removal of limit of NFR at Risk MW values
RMT Specification [ pdf 554.26 KB ] (version 7.0) 26 Aug 2019 Added HVDC FIR sharing limits.
RMT Specification [ pdf 427.95 KB ] (version 6.0) 12 Sep 2018

Updated section 2.2 and added section 3.4 to include AOPO calculations.  Other minor corrections to include SI ECE 47 Hz / 30 sec window.

Revision to AUFLS to allow for block4 without df/dt (block10)

Revised HVDC model description
RMT Specification [ pdf 408.26 KB ] (version 5.0) 19 Jan 2018 Revisions to section 3.2 for new North Island Auto Under Frequency Load Shedding (AUFLS) scheme.
Draft RMT Specification [ pdf 952.39 KB ](version 5.0)  Draft Draft revisions to section 3.2 for new North Island Auto Under Frequency Load Shedding (AUFLS) scheme. (changes redlined)
RMT Specification (version 4.0 [ pdf 742.49 KB ]) 20 Oct 2016 Update associated with implementing National Market for Instantaneous Reserves and risk groups.
Draft RMT Specification (version 4.0)  [ pdf 746.65 KB ] Draft

This version includes changes to incorporate the National Market for Instantaneous Reserves (NMIR). The general description of the New Zealand electricity system has been updated along with the South Island AUFLS modelling parameters.  
RMT Specification (Version 3.0) [ pdf 454.75 KB ] 17 Oct 2014 Major update resulting from the change of the RMT software application from Simulink to RMTSAT.

SPD Formulation 

This document is a mathematical description of Transpower’s “Scheduling, Pricing, and Dispatch” (SPD) software to be used by the New Zealand Electricity Market. 

Link/Version Date Short Description of Changes
SPD Formulation (version 11.5) [ pdf 852.4 KB ] 24 Jun 2021 Updated for various changes associated with the Reverse Branch Limits project.
SPD Formulation (version 11.4) [ pdf 777.49 KB ] 19 Nov 2020 Add check for $0 to replacing invalid prices after SOS1
SPD Formulation (version 11.3) [ pdf 1.08 MB ] 5 Sep 2019

Update associated with implementing Wind Offer Arrangements.
SPD Formulation (version 11.2) [ pdf 1.07 MB ] 1 Nov 2018 No changes to the SPD software. This update aligns the formulation more closely with the software in the areas of pre-processing and post-processing.
SPD Formulation (version 11.1) [ pdf 986.52 KB ] 22 Nov 2016 Minor change to section 5.4 to reflect changes to shared reserve loss modelling during DC outages.
Draft SPD Formulation (version 11.1) [ pdf 988.53 KB ] Draft Minor change to section 5.4 to reflect changes to shared reserve loss modelling during DC outages.
SPD Formulation (version 11.0) [ pdf 985.32 KB ] 20 Oct 2016

Update associated with implementing National Market for Instantaneous Reserves and risk groups.

Note that the shared reserve loss calculation uses the bi-pole loss tranch value when a pole is out of service. This has no impact on security. This will be changed in the next SPD release to calculate based on the relevant mono-pole loss tranch value.
Draft SPD Formulation (version 11.0) [ pdf 1007.61 KB ] Draft

This version incorporates changes to allow SPD to schedule shared reserve across the DC link to facilitate the transition from Island based reserve markets to a national reserves market. It also includes changes to allow SPD to co-optimise risks defined as all units at a Grid Injection Point (GIP) or multiple GIPs.

Note that the shared reserve loss calculation uses the bi-pole loss tranch value when a pole is out of service. This has no impact on security. This will be changed in the next SPD release to calculate based on the relevant mono-pole loss tranch value.
SPD Formulation (version 10.0) [ pdf 774.27 KB ] 01 Apr 2016 Update associated mainly with correction of reserve price definition and generation ramp model.