On 23 December 2024, AusNet Services submitted a cost pass through application seeking to recover the costs it has incurred as a result of the September 2024 storm in Victoria. 

AusNet Services is proposing an increase in its revenue allowance of $11.4 million ($2021, smoothed) to be recovered as follows: 50% or 5.6 million in the final year of the 2021-26 regulatory control period (2025–26); and the rest ($5.6 million) in the first year of the 2026–31 regulatory control period. 

We invite energy consumers and other interested parties to make submissions on AusNet Services’ cost pass through application by close of business 25 February 2025.

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 September 2024 storm event meet the definition of a cost pass through event under clause 6.6.1(a1) of the NER and AusNet Services’ current revenue determination?
• Is the increase in costs that AusNet Services has incurred as a result of the event material?
• 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 event 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 costpassthroughsaer [dot] gov [dot] au (costpassthroughs[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.