Powercor Australia Limited has applied for a licence to transmit electricity. Read their application and learn about the feedback process related to this application.
Powercor Australia Limited – Application for Electricity Transmission Licence
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Application date30 April 2024
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Submissions close11 June 2024
Overview
Powercor Australia Limited (Powercor) has applied to the Essential Services Commission for an electricity transmission licence in Victoria.
We are responsible for deciding whether to grant or refuse a licence application. We invite your feedback between 30 April 2024 and 11 June 2024. The commission will make a decision on the licence application later in 2024.
How does Powercor propose to use this licence?
You can find more information about the proposed Powercor project in the documents supplied, including its application for an electricity transmission licence. (See Resources tab of this page)
Powercor’s vision statement explains how they plan to use this licence:
If granted this licence, we won’t be constructing large transmission line corridors. Our focus will be on building and upgrading transmission infrastructure to connect contained projects to the grid.
It is anticipated the infrastructure would have a capacity up to 220 kV, consistent with these statements. It is proposed that the licence would be limited to the area of Powercor’s electricity distribution licence.
Our role in energy licensing
A person who wants to engage in the activity of transmitting electricity in Victoria is required to hold a licence granted by the Essential Services Commission.
We are responsible for deciding whether to grant or refuse a licence application. What we can and can’t consider in our decision-making process is prescribed by legislation*. Our overarching objective is to promote the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services.**
Please see the document below outlining objectives under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and Electricity Industry Act 2000 that we must have regard to.
* In accordance with section 19 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000.
** Under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 and the Electricity Industry Act 2000.
How we assess licence applications
We will not grant a licence unless we are satisfied that:
- the applicant has the technical capacity to comply with the conditions of the licence, meaning it has the capacity to operate and manage the business, comply with license conditions and comply with relevant regulatory obligations.
- the applicant is financially viable (where applicable)
- the applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence in Victoria.
You can refer to our Guideline: Applications for electricity and gas industry licences for more information.
The guideline includes information to assist people to understand our licensing process.
Public forum – 28 May 2024
We will hold an online public forum at 12pm on 28 May 2024 for stakeholders to find out more about our licence assessment process, Powercor's application and how to make a submission.
The forum will be recorded to ensure access for those unable to attend. Any statement, comment or question you make will be included in the recording which we plan to upload to YouTube and our website.
How to participate
We are seeking your feedback on Powercor's application that may assist us in deciding to grant or refuse this application.
You may provide your feedback by:
- providing comments in the survey and/or providing a submission document via Engage Victoria.
Alternatively, you can upload your submission below or send it to us via the below contact details:
- Email: Licences@esc.vic.gov.au
- Mail: Essential Services Commission, Level 8, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
You can also call us on 03 9032 1300 to discuss your options.
If English is not your first language, please contact TIS National on 131 450 to make your submission using an interpreter.
Submissions close at 5pm on 11 June 2024.
Next steps
We will review all submissions once the consultation is completed and your feedback will inform our consideration of the application.