EnergyConnect

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EnergyConnect is a new 900km electricity transmission line that will lower power bills for homes and businesses and create 1500 new jobs, mostly across regional NSW.

Our communities need affordable, reliable and clean electricity.

This project will lower electricity bills by allowing the free flow of electricity between New South Wales and South Australia for the first time in history.

The new transmission line will link New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. TransGrid is delivering the NSW section.

Construction will create about 800 jobs, and a further indirect 700 jobs during the course of the project. It will provide new opportunities for a wide range of businesses, and deliver around $4 billion in economic benefits to NSW, much of it to regional communities.

The line will run from Wagga Wagga in NSW to Robertstown in SA, with a connection to Red Cliffs, in Victoria.

Why is the project needed?

The Australian energy landscape is transforming with an increased focus on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. At the same time, consumers are demanding lower power bills, without reducing reliability.

The new transmission line supports jobs in industries where reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity is essential to doing business.

EnergyConnect is a key element of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan and the New South Wales Government has declared it Critical State Significant Infrastructure.

What is happening now?

EnergyConnect is in the last stage of the regulatory process and a decision is expected soon.

The final Contingent Project Application (CPA) has been submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator.

The EIS for the NSW-Western Section has been completed and is available on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Major Projects Planning Portal. The Department accepted submissions regarding the EIS until 10 December. TransGrid is now preparing a response to submissions received.

To support community engagement, TransGrid has developed a Community Guide to the EIS.

Rationale and benefits
The Australian energy landscape is undergoing significant change. Several contributing factors are driving the evolution of the energy market to low-emission renewable energy, including:
- access to new generation sources, as coal-fired plants close
- government commitments to reduce carbon emissions
- the potential for renewable generation to reduce energy prices
- demand for a more reliable energy supply.
To support this change and growth in the energy market, TransGrid has partnered with ElectraNet in South Australia to deliver what will be one of the nation’s largest energy infrastructure projects.
EnergyConnect will deliver the infrastructure required to support this transition by connecting the energy grids of NSW, SA and Victoria. These connections will allow Australian communities and business to benefit from an expanded wholesale electricity market across the three states.
EnergyConnect is expected to provide a range of benefits including:
Lower prices
- NSW Households will save $180m on electricity bills each year.
Energy security
- Enable a greater mix of renewable energy generation to connect to the network
- Increase reliability and security of electricity supply.
Increased economic activity and jobs
- Create 1,500 jobs in NSW
- Deliver a $4 billion net economic benefit in NSW
- Unlock development of new energy projects.
Landholder and community engagement

We have been actively engaging with landholders and communities throughout the planning phase to identify local considerations that will assist in developing the proposed transmission route.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The EIS for the NSW-Western Section has been completed and is available on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Major Projects Planning Portal. The Department accepted submissions regarding the EIS until 10 December. TransGrid is now preparing a response to submissions received.
To support community engagement, TransGrid has developed a Community Guide to the EIS and an interactive map of the NSW-Western Section
The final Contingent Project Application (CPA) has been submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator.
Community Information Sessions
Community information sessions relating to the EIS and submission process took place in November 2020.
Further community information sessions will be held in 2021 between Buronga and Wagga Wagga on the NSW-Eastern Section. Engagement sessions will be listed here and advertised in local media in advance. A COVID-19 Safety Plan will be in place for each location.
To speak to a project representative phone 1800 49 06 66, or email pec@transgrid.com.au.
Regulatory approvals
To be given final investment approval, EnergyConnect must demonstrate benefits to consumers using a three-part market benefits test. This Regulatory Investment Test – Transmission (RIT-T) process is a rigorous cost-benefit analysis that transmission businesses must undertake and consult on before making investments of more than $6 million.
Through the EnergyConnect RIT-T process, all network and non-network solution options from a technical and economic perspective were assessed by:
- informing stakeholders of investment need and proposed options
- testing the market for alternative and more efficient solutions
- explaining to stakeholders the basis on which the preferred option was selected.
The AER approved the RIT-T in January 2020.
Final contingent project applications
EnergyConnect reached an important milestone in the regulatory approvals process with the submission of final contingent project applications to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on 30 September 2020.
Contingent project applications outline the amount of revenue network businesses are seeking in order to deliver a project. TransGrid is committed to delivering the project at the lowest possible cost with the greatest benefit to energy consumers.
Stakeholder consultation on the contingent project applications is open and submissions are invited. The AER is expected to make a final decision by the end of the year.
Environmental and planning approvals

The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces declared the NSW section of EnergyConnect as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) in August 2019.
Under the NSW Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), all Critical State Significant Infrastructure applications are required to go through a comprehensive assessment process with extensive community involvement. This assessment process is detailed on the NSW Planning Portal.
The NSW section of EnergyConnect will be assessed in two sections, with the current status and relevant documentation including Scoping Reports and SEARs available online:
- NSW-Western Section from the SA/NSW border to Buronga through to the NSW/VIC border
- NSW-Eastern Section from Buronga to Wagga Wagga
This project has been determined as a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) and will be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
Details of the referral determination can be found by searching ‘EnergyConnect’ on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Referrals List Portal.

Key dates

Preliminary investigations and project scoping	From 2018
Community and landowner consultation	From 2019
Project approvals	From early 2020 - mid 2021
Construction	From late 2021
Project commissioning	By 2023

Online resources

Factsheet
Route selection
Land access
Ecology surveys
Geotechnical investigations
Contact us

Toll-free phone number: 1800 49 06 66
Email: pec@transgrid.com.au