The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has received an application for approval of a contingent project from ElectraNet for the upgrade of the Heywood Interconnector. The ElectraNet project involves installing new equipment to upgrade the 275kV transmission lines linking Victoria to South Australia and reconfiguration of the 132kV network in South Australia. Associated with this work is a project to be undertaken in Victoria by the Australian Energy Market Operator to upgrade transformer capacity at Heywood. The combined project will increase the power transfer capability between Victoria and South Australia.
Before a major upgrade of transmission capability is undertaken the applicant must conduct a regulatory investment test (RIT-T). On 4 September 2013 the AER determined that ElectraNet had satisfied the NER requirement to conduct a regulatory investment test to select a preferred option.
The AER’s review of this contingent project application will, in accordance with clause 6A.8.2 of the NER, determine whether the costs proposed by ElectraNet to implement the preferred option are reasonable and if the timing of the expenditure is appropriate. As the RIT-T determination has been completed, the selection of a preferred option will not be further considered by the AER.
Invitation for submissions
The AER invites written submissions on the application by COB 7 February 2014. Submissions can be sent electronically to AERInquiry
aer [dot] gov [dot] au (AERInquiry[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).
The AER prefers that all submissions be sent in an electronic format in Microsoft Word or other text readable document form and publicly available, to facilitate an informed, transparent and robust consultation process. Accordingly, submissions will be treated as public documents and posted on the AER's website unless prior arrangements are made with the AER to treat the submission, or portions of it, as confidential. Those wishing to submit confidential information are requested to:
- clearly identify the information that is the subject of the confidentiality claim; and
- provide a non-confidential version of the submission.