On 20 June 2024, AusNet Services submitted an application to the AER under clause 6.6.1 (a1)(5) of the National Electricity Rules for a positive pass through of costs related to the 13 February 2024 storm in Victoria. 

AusNet Services incurred total costs of $32.7 million ($2021), including $17.3 million in Guaranteed Service Level payments to affected customers, and $15.4 million for emergency response. 

AusNet Services’ application proposes to recover $26.5 million ($2021, smoothed) from electricity users through an increase in distribution prices in the remaining year of this regulatory period (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026) and early in the 2026-31 regulatory period. 

We invite energy consumers and other interested parties to make submissions on AusNet Services' 13 February 2024 pass through application by close of business 19 August 2024.

The AER’s role is to determine whether a positive change event as defined in the NER has occurred, and if so what is the incremental revenue amount which should be passed through to network users. In order to best assist and inform the AER in making its determination, interested parties may wish to address the following questions:

• Does the storm that occurred on 13 February 2024 meet the definition of a cost pass through event under clause 6.6.1(a1) of the NER?
• Are the costs identified by AusNet Services incremental to costs already allowed for in its current revenue determination, and related solely to the occurrence of the pass through event?
• Are the decisions and actions AusNet Services has taken in relation to the storm on 13 February 2024 efficient? 
• Are there any other factors the AER should take into account in making its determination?

Submissions should be emailed Attention: Arek Gulbenkoglu, General Manager, Network Expenditure at AERInquiryaer [dot] gov [dot] au (subject: Attention%3A%20Sebastian%20Roberts%2C%20General%20Manager%2C%20Transmission%20and%20Gas%20%E2%80%93%20Submission%20on%20Endeavour%20Energy%27s%20cost%20pass%20though%20application) (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).

Alternatively, you may mail submissions to:

Mr Arek Gulbenkoglu
General Manager
Australian Energy Regulator
GPO Box 3131.
Canberra ACT 2601.

We prefer that all submissions be publicly available to facilitate an informed and transparent consultative process. We will treat submissions as public documents unless otherwise requested. All non-confidential submissions will be placed on the AER's website. For further information regarding the AER's use and disclosure of information provided to it, see the ACCC/AER Information Policy.

We request parties wishing to submit confidential information:

• clearly identify the information that is the subject of the confidentiality claim
• provide a non-confidential version of the submission in a form suitable for publication.

On 30 July 2024 we issued a notice to AusNet Services extending the time limit for making a decision on its 13 February 2024 Storm Event cost pass through application, by 60 days, in accordance with clause 6.6.1(k1) of the National Electricity Rules. The AER now has 100 business days, commencing from 20 June 2024, to make a determination on AusNet Services' application.