New South Wales has over 100 proposed new renewable energy generation projects seeking to connect to the electricity network. This expanding pipeline is increasing demand for timely, coordinated and scalable Supply Connection Infrastructure (SCI), both in Renewable Energy Zones and in other areas.
RE-Alliance welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART’s) Options Paper on the review of the regulatory framework for SCI in New South Wales (Options Paper).
We agree with IPART’s assessment that the current regulatory framework contains a material gap for contestable SCI. This is a gap that is particularly relevant to regional communities because privately owned and operated assets have similar real-world impacts to regulated transmission infrastructure, but are not subject to comparable obligations – creating uncertainty around what communities can expect in relation to the planning, construction and operation of new SCI. RE-Alliance therefore supports stronger, proportionate regulation of contestable SCI, especially direct connection assets, rather than leaving these assets largely outside a clear NSW regulatory framework.
RE-Alliance’s key recommendations for IPART in finalising its review are:
- IPART should support a stronger regulatory framework for higher-risk contestable SCI because, as the Options Paper itself recognises, inaction may perpetuate uncertainty for host communities and landholders and may not meet community expectations.
- The proposed assessment criteria in Chapter 5 should be expanded to include social licence, host community outcomes, and landholder impacts, as these matters are important considerations under relevant legislation and central to the public interest in the development of new SCI.
- NSW should align SCI obligations with the expectations that already apply, or are emerging, for transmission in NSW and nationally, including community engagement, benefit-sharing, complaint handling, land access protocols and public accountability.
- Complaint handling and dispute resolution for relevant SCI assets should connect into existing NSW mechanisms, including Energy & Water Ombudsman, 7 so that communities are not left with weaker protections simply because an asset is contestable or privately owned.
