Planning and consultation process

Part of Powerlink’s role is to plan and review the future of Queensland’s electricity transmission network so it meets forecast electricity demands.

Every year, we review the transmission network to assess its ability to meet forecast electricity needs for the next 10 years. This review helps us identify solutions to growing electricity demand well in advance of when action is needed.

We publish the findings of this review in our Annual Planning Report (APR), which is a technical document that outlines where we’ve identified the potential future need for a network augmentation. In the APR, and all of our planning documents, when we refer to a ‘network augmentation’ we’re talking about a solution that will increase the ability of the electricity network to carry more electricity. We’re not referring to projects that simply replace existing electrical equipment.

All potential solutions to help increase the capacity of Queensland’s high voltage transmission network must be tested using one of two tests developed by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to ensure it will have maximum net economic benefits:

1. Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) applies to transmission investment consultations initiated from 1 August 2010 onwards. Read more about the RIT-T consultation process.
2. Regulatory Test applies to transmission investment consultations where transmission investment is required to address distribution network needs or for consultations which were initiated before 1 August 2010. Read more about the Regulatory Test process.