Enabling Queensland’s future energy system
Transmission plays a critical role in enabling the state’s economic growth and maintaining a reliable electricity system for households, businesses, and industries.
The Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024 (the Act) was passed in April 2024 and sets out the process to allow the Queensland Government to identify and assess Priority Transmission Investment projects within a new State-based planning and investment framework, and to direct Powerlink to construct these projects and recover its costs following completion of assessment activities.
Delivering Value for Customers, Communities, and Industry
A proactive approach benefits all stakeholders:
- For customers: a reliable electricity network reduces disruptions and supports businesses, homes, and essential services.
- For communities: improved infrastructure drives regional development and provides confidence for long-term planning and growth.
- For industry: timely investments ensure a resilient supply of electricity to meet the needs of expanding industrial operations and can attract new businesses to Queensland.
What are the steps involved in a Priority Transmission Investment?
The Priority Transmission Investment process consists of four key stages leading up to the commencement of construction:
Identification
The Responsible Ministers identify a project as an eligible Priority Transmission Investment project.
Assessment
The Responsible Ministers declare the eligible Priority Transmission Investment to be a candidate Priority Transmission Investment, and direct Powerlink to undertake an assessment of the project. The assessment stage comprises two sub-steps, each involving consultation by Powerlink. These sub-steps are the ‘candidate Priority Transmission Investment submission’ and ‘candidate Priority Transmission Investment’ assessment steps.
Construction
Powerlink builds the transmission infrastructure.
Review
The Responsible Ministers review any additional expenditure for efficiency (and direct Powerlink how to recover any efficient additional expenditure).
Importantly, the process also requires the Responsible Ministers to seek advice from a ‘suitably qualified person’, for example the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), regarding whether Powerlink’s:
- submission about the assessment approach meets the requirements of the Act;
- assessment of the candidate Priority Transmission Investment accords with Responsible Ministers’ stated requirements; and
- proposed or incurred expenditure on the investment would be required by an efficient and prudent operator.
The process is intended to emulate the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T), included in the National Electricity Rules (NER) and supporting documentation, as appropriately and closely as practicable.
Powerlink consultation opportunities
Powerlink undertakes two public consultations as part of the Assessment Stage of the Priority Transmission Investment framework:
- Consultation on the submission document
- Consultation on the assessment document
The timeframes for the Priority Transmission Investment, including consultation timeframes, are set by the Responsible Ministers when directing Powerlink to undertake each step of the Assessment Stage.
Powerlink invites written responses to each consultation from energy industry participants, energy market bodies, potential non-network solution providers and any other interested parties.
Information on what is in and out of scope of the consultation is provided as part of the consultation process.
Providing expressions of interest as a non-network service provider
Priority Transmission Investments may comprise opportunities for non-network solutions. Potential providers of non-network solutions are encouraged to provide written response to the consultation, for full assessment of all credible options.
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