For Australia’s electricity and gas networks, change is part of the job. But that doesn’t make it any easier — especially when it comes to managing regulatory updates like the Industry Data Exchange (IDX) reform.
IDX is just the latest in a long list of compliance changes facing transmission and distribution businesses. But while the reforms may be necessary, the way networks have to respond to them often isn’t. Too often, staying compliant means expensive system updates, draining internal resources, and layering more and more complexity on top of legacy platforms.
And for what? Another short-term fix — until the next change comes along.
At Brave, we think there’s a better way forward. One that doesn’t require networks to pull apart their core systems or throw good money after bad. One that reduces the risk, the cost, and the operational stress of regulatory change.
Compliance pressure keeps building — and it’s not slowing down
We know that regulatory change isn’t slowing. Networks are being asked to do more — improve data transparency, streamline customer support, protect life support customers, report accurately and in real time — all while managing ageing infrastructure and rising expectations from regulators and the public.
Take the recent IDX changes. Designed to improve market transparency and standardisation, IDX introduces new data formats and interactions that networks must now implement across the board. But integrating these changes into core operational systems isn’t a small job. It can take months, tie up key staff, and force networks to prioritise compliance over everything else.
And let’s be honest — the cost of getting it wrong is high.
Jemena was hit with a $5.5 million penalty for failing to comply with gas auction rules. These aren’t just headlines — they’re cautionary tales. In most cases, it wasn’t bad intent — it was bad systems, manual workarounds, or data failures that caused the damage.
The real problem: complexity creep
Every time a new regulation lands, networks dig back into their systems to make it fit. The more often this happens, the more fragile things get.
One-off updates start to conflict. Business rules become buried in code. Testing gets harder. Staff turnover makes knowledge harder to retain. And before long, networks find themselves with rigid systems that are expensive to change and risky to touch.
That’s how “just one more update” turns into years of technical debt — and a growing exposure to compliance and operational risk.
Big rebuilds aren’t the answer either
It’s tempting to think a major system overhaul will solve it all. But for most networks, that’s neither realistic nor affordable. Major transformations are high-risk, long-haul efforts. They often run over time, over budget, and underdeliver — especially when the goalposts keep moving.
In today’s environment, networks don’t need big-bang solutions. They need flexible, modular systems that can evolve as the market changes — without disrupting the entire business every time the rules shift.
Meanwhile, Network Operations are already under strain
Let’s not forget: networks are already carrying a heavy operational load. You’re managing outage response, fault data, customer complaints, DER connections, metering issues, data mismatches — and doing all of it under tight timelines and close scrutiny.
Every new regulation adds another layer. More reporting. More reconciliation. More testing. More chances for something to fall through the cracks.
This is where the right kind of technology can make a real difference — not by replacing everything you’ve built, but by helping you manage change without the chaos.
Brave’s Advanced Market Gateway: built for Networks
That’s why we created the Advanced Market Gateway — a cloud-based platform that works alongside your existing systems to simplify compliance and streamline key market processes.
It’s IDX-ready. It’s proven in the field. And most importantly, it doesn’t require you to rebuild your internal architecture to keep pace with regulatory change.
Instead, it plugs into your existing stack, handles complex market workflows (electricity and gas), and gives your teams the tools they need to meet compliance requirements — without adding more manual steps or overloading internal systems.
It’s already working for customers like:
Richard Fink, Chief Product Officer, Bluecurrent: “Brave’s Market Gateway solution helped Bluecurrent to enter the Australian market and meet our regulatory obligations, while still using our existing core systems. The implementation was smooth, and we were operational quickly and efficiently.”
Kim Howlett, Chief Operating Officer, Rimfire Energy: “Partnering with Brave Energy made our integration with AEMO seamless. Their market integration layer removed the complexity from a highly regulated process, allowing us to achieve compliance quickly and with minimal operational disruption. The implementation was smooth, well-supported, and exceeded our expectations.”
Ready for what’s next — without the rebuild
What IDX has shown us is that regulatory change isn’t a one-off event — it’s a continuous part of doing business in the Australian energy market. And that means networks need a smarter, lighter approach to system change.
With Brave’s Advanced Market Gateway, you can:
- Simplify IDX and other compliance updates
- Reduce strain on internal IT and ops teams
- Automate common workflows and reporting
- Avoid large-scale, high-risk rebuilds
- Prepare for what’s next — without starting from scratch
Let’s talk
Brave Energy has been supporting the Australian energy market for over 20 years. We understand the complexity you’re managing. And we know how to make it easier.
If you’re a transmission or distribution business looking to simplify compliance, reduce risk, and future-proof your operations, we’d love to talk.
Plug in. Don’t rebuild.
Speak to Brave Energy today
