The Australian Energy Regulator has issued the 2010-11 electricity performance report for transmission network service providers (TNSPs) in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
TNSPs manage the high voltage lines that transmit electricity to cities, towns and across state borders within the five interconnected jurisdictions of the NEM – South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland. Large users of electricity such as aluminum smelters typically connect directly into the transmission network.
Transmission network charges generally make up about 10 per cent of a household customer's bill, but a much bigger proportion of a larger customer's electricity costs.
As electricity transmission networks are natural monopolies, the AER controls the TNSPs' maximum allowed yearly revenues.
The performance report provides information on the financial performance and reliability of transmission networks managed by the TNSPs and how they are performing in comparison to performance targets. This informs the public and increases accountability for performance outcomes. The TNSPs covered in the report are: ElectraNet; Powerlink; SP AusNet; Transend; TransGrid; Directlink and Murraylink.