Project Assessment Draft Report

Overview

Sydney Ring South (SRS) is a proposal identified in AEMO’s Integrated System Plan that aims to support growing communities by improving access to reliable, affordable renewable energy and addressing an energy bottleneck into South Western Sydney and the Illawarra. It responds to increasing electricity demand and the retirement of coal-fired power stations, which, if not addressed, could place pressure on electricity costs and constrain future growth across the region.

Home to more than 2.5 million people, Western Sydney is among Australia’s fastest‑growing economic regions. As cheaper renewable generation from across the state moves to underpin the state’s electricity supply, Transgrid is investigating options to strengthen electricity supply to Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Transgrid was asked by AEMO to complete a detailed assessment to look at options to strengthen the electricity network and allow more energy to flow from the south of Sydney. Transgrid has identified options for consideration to upgrade infrastructure such as substations and transmission lines to bring more energy into Western Sydney.

At this stage, no routes or designs have been identified. We’re sharing information about options early so residents, businesses and stakeholders can understand why this work is being considered and help shape how it progresses.

We are at the starting point of an ongoing conversation to help secure the long-term energy requirements of an important region. Community and stakeholder feedback will play a critical role in project design and development and we are seeking your views before decisions are made, not after. We encourage you to participate and make a submission to help inform the future of the electricity system for NSW.

What is being looked at

To meet rising electricity demand and support the state’s transition to lower cost renewable energy, Transgrid is investigating options for a second high-capacity transmission pathway, such as a 500 kV transmission line, into Western Sydney. 

This would help to alleviate a bottleneck that is limiting electricity flow into the region. It would also strengthen the wider network and ensure more affordable renewable energy can reliably reach communities across Greater Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra.

Sydney Ring South is about planning a long-term power supply solution that safeguards consumers and communities while supporting economic growth in the region. Doing this work early means we can safeguard lower cost options, which is important for all, including future generations.

SRS aims to:

  • improve access to lower cost renewable energy 
  • reduce network congestion that can contribute to higher wholesale electricity prices
  • support regional growth and job creation by enabling more homes and businesses to connect to the grid – particularly those in energy-intensive digital industries
  • strengthen productivity, innovation and long-term economic growth in Western Sydney, supporting Bradfield and Western Sydney International Airport 
  • avoid higher future costs and disruption by planning well in advance.

Where are we now?

Sydney Ring South is in the early planning stages. We are investigating potential options as part of the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR), which is the first step of the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T). 

Together with community and stakeholder input, this process aims to evaluate all credible options to determine the right solution, at the right time, and at the lowest cost for consumers.

The PADR is scheduled for publication on this page from 29 May 2026. We will then undertake a detailed stakeholder consultation process on the outcomes of the PADR and encourage stakeholders to put forward their views.

The next stage following the PADR is the Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR), which provides further assessment into the proposed preferred option with a consultation and submission period. This is the final step in the RIT-T.

Consultation timeline

  • PADR - In development

    13-week consultation period is open for submissions between 29 May and 28 August 2026

  • PACR - Proposed

    Proposed preferred option is shared publicly around mid-2027.

How we are engaging

Throughout the planning process, we’ll provide clear, timely information and multiple opportunities for people to learn about the project and share their views. 

We will be transparent about what is known, what is still being considered and how stakeholder input informs decisions. Our focus is on early listening to understand community values, aspirations and potential impacts.

Transgrid will invite feedback from communities, consumers, government, industry and other stakeholders.

Further details about who we will be engaging with and how, can be found in our Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

How to make a submission

Transgrid invites submissions on:

  • what option should be built and when
  • the analysis and conclusions presented in the PADR 
  • broader feedback on affordability, reliability, and equitable access or
  • environmental, social and community considerations.

Please send formal submissions on the PADR to srs@transgrid.com.au by Friday, 28 August 2026.

Unless clearly requested otherwise at the time of lodgment, submissions will be published on this webpage and on AEMO’s website. 

More information

If you have any questions about this project, including how to make a submission or our engagement program, please email srs@transgrid.com.au or phone 1800 222 537.

Documents to help guide your submission

A strong transmission network

Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong together form one of Australia’s most important economic regions. More than six million people live across this corridor, and it accounts for around 75% of New South Wales’s electricity demand.

For generations, this region has been powered by coal. But that is changing quickly. Over the next decade, NSW’s coal-fired power stations will progressively retire and exit the market, marking a major shift in how electricity is produced.

Renewable energy - now the lowest-cost source of electricity in Australia - will increasingly power homes, businesses and industry. Much of this new generation will come from Renewable Energy Zones in regional NSW and from interstate.

Even with impressive rooftop solar and growing home battery uptake, households and businesses still rely heavily on the grid during evenings, cloudy weather and peak usage times. Expanding the network will help address these challenges and ensure energy supply keeps pace with growth.