On 21 March 2022, the AER released its decision on Essential Energy’s 2019–20 bushfire natural disaster cost pass through application. The AER has determined that the 2019–20 bushfires that are the subject of Essential Energy’s application do not constitute a single natural disaster event. Instead, the AER has determined that the bushfires in Northern NSW and the bushfires in Southern NSW constitute two separate natural disaster events and that two positive change events have occurred under the National Electricity Rules. The AER has approved pass through amounts of $11.1 million ($nominal) for the Northern NSW bushfire and $20.2 ($nominal) for the Southern NSW bushfire, to be recovered as follows over the two regulatory years:

• $5.4 million ($nominal) to be recovered in 2022–23 for the Northern NSW bushfire
• $9.8 million ($nominal) to be recovered in 2022–23 for the Southern NSW bushfire
• $5.7 million ($nominal) to be recovered in 2023–24 for the Northern NSW bushfire
• $10.4 million ($nominal) to be recovered in 2023–24 for the Southern NSW bushfire