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 close14 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 invited feedback from stakeholders between 30 April 2024 and 14 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.
Information session - 28 May 2024
We held a public information session at 12pm on 28 May 2024 for stakeholders to find out more about Powercor's application, our licence assessment process and how to make a submission.
The recording of the information session and the slides used at the information session can be accessed below.
Next steps
The formal consultation period has now closed.
We will review all submissions and the feedback will inform our consideration of the application.