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Regulatory Publications

AusNet Services’ electricity distribution network carries electricity to approximately 730,000 customers across eastern Victoria. This network is large and complex, consisting of around 50,000 kilometres of powerlines, more than 370,000 powerpoles, control systems and meters. Maintaining a network of this scale requires considerable expertise and investment. If you have visited areas such as the Yarra Valley on Melbourne’s eastern fringe, the forests of the Dandenong ranges, the rugged Victorian High Country, the Murray River around Corowa, or the remote coastal environments of Wilsons Promontory or Mallacoota in East Gippsland, you will have travelled through areas serviced by our distribution network. This predominantly rural network spans an area of 80,000 square kilometres of unique and diverse terrain, from Melbourne’s populated eastern urban fringe, through steep, heavily treed mountainous regions and harsh coastal environments. As well as challenging physical environments, this area includes some of Australia’s most bushfire-prone regions. 

AusNet Services produces a range of reports and publications that demonstrate our commitment to providing safe, reliable and efficient energy supply to consumers. In doing this we demonstrate compliance with regulations. Some of these are listed under the links below.

  • Electricity Distribution Plans
    Click here to read an overview of our electricity distribution plans for 2016 to 2020. The overview discusses how we propose to balance the competing priorities of network costs, safety and reliability over the next five years. The purpose of the overview themed 'Customer Value, Safety, Innovation', is to provide a useful tool to build a better understanding of AusNet Services' electricity distribution business. A more detailed technical proposal was submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), please click here to read it. You can also access the technical proposal on the AER's website www.aer.gov.au

  • Bushfire Mitigation Plans
    The Bushfire Mitigation Plans (the Plans) describe AusNet Services’ preventative strategies, procedures and processes within its Asset Management System used to monitor, investigate, report, analyse and implement programs to mitigate the risk of fire ignition associated with its supply networks. The Plans also describe the processes concerning management of customer private overhead electric lines.

     

  • Vegetation Management Plans

    The purpose of the Vegetation Management Plans (the Plans) is to provide management procedures to be adopted and observed in tree pruning or clearing in the vicinity of electric lines. The Plans also provide management procedures that ensure maintenance of prescribed clearance spaces, exempted clearance space requirements and compliance with the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2015. The Plans are reviewed annually and submitted to Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) by 31 March for approval in accordance with the Electricity Safety Act.

     

  • Access Arrangements to our Network
    AusNet Services' Access Arrangements describe the terms and conditions for obtaining access to our network. Generally, it is electricity retailers and generators who apply to gain access to the network so that they can transport electricity to customers. These arrangements are available for viewing below:

     

  • Distribution Loss Factors

    As a Distribution Network Service Provider, AusNet Services is responsible for calculating distribution loss factors (DLFs) under clause 3.6.3 of the National Electricity Rules. Site specific DLFs are allocated to each embedded generator of actual generation of more than 10 MW and each large customer consuming more than 40 GWh per annum or with a peak demand of 10 MW.  Network average DLFs are calculated for all other customers and embedded generators.

     
    Site specific DLFs for embedded generators are calculated using the methodology described in the document: Methodology for Calculating Distribution Loss Factors for Embedded Generators Greater than 10MW. Network average DLFs and site specific DLFs for large customers are calculated using the process described in the Essential Services Commission’s guidance paper: Essential Services Commission, Guidance Paper: Calculation methodology for Distribution Loss Factors (DLFs) for the Victorian Jurisdiction.

  • Engagement

    Network Consultation Conclusions Report – to maintain reliability of electricity supply to Kalkallo Zone Substation customers, this report is published under the requirements of the National Electricity Rules and advises on outcomes of our consultation on whether a network support option is a viable alternative to the proposed new Kalkallo to Doreen 66kV line. The report details an assessment of all options considered, their economic effectiveness, submissions received and the recommended action. AusNet Services' Demand Side Engagement Strategy aims to facilitate co-operative engagement in network planning between Distribution Network Service Providers and proponents of non-network solutions.


    Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters Program  

    New bushfire mitigation regulations require AusNet Services to meet new performance standards for lines originating from 22 selected zone substations. Currently, the installation of Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL) is the only technically feasible solution capable of meeting the specified performance requirements.  

    As a major network augmentation, the REFCL project is subject to the regulatory investment test for distribution (RIT-D) in accordance with the National Electricity Rules (NER).


    Tranche 1 RIT-D

    In March 2017 AusNet Services published a notice, as required by the RIT-D process, determining that there are no credible non-network options for this tranche.

    The next step in the RIT-D process is to prepare and publish a Draft Project Assessment Report and undertake consultation on the report. The Draft Project Assessment Report set out details of the REFCL project including the costs and the various options considered. We request submissions on the matters set out in this Draft Project Assessment Report. Notification of this request for submissions will also be provided to Registered Participants, AEMO, non-network providers, interested parties and persons on our demand side engagement register as required by the NER.

    We received no submissions on the Draft Project Assessment Report and have now published our Final Project Assessment Report.


    Tranche 2 RIT-D

    AusNet Services has published a notice, as required by the RIT-D process, determining that there are no credible non-network options for this tranche.

    The next step in the RIT-D process is to prepare and publish a Draft Project Assessment Report and undertake consultation on the report.

  • Planning reports

    These reports will give you a greater understanding of the complex Victorian electricity-planning environment.
     

    • Transmission Connection Planning Report 2019 - produced jointly by the Victorian electricity distribution businesses who are responsible for planning and directing the augmentation of the facilities that connect their distribution systems to the shared transmission network. Additional to the distribution businesses, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is responsible for planning and directing the augmentation of the shared transmission network. This joint Report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Distribution Licences, the Victorian Distribution Code and the National Electricity Rules.
        
    • Terminal Station Demand Forecasts - compiled from forecasts provided by Victorian participants (being the Victorian electricity distribution businesses and directly connected customers), and they reflect participants’ expectations of future demand. The demand forecasts used in the preparation of the Transmission Connection Planning Report are identical with those contained in the Terminal Station Demand Forecasts. 
       
    • Distribution Annual Planning Report – prepared in accordance with clause 5.13 of the National Electricity Rules (NER). The report provides information on the AusNet Services distribution network in the eastern rural Victoria and the fringe of the northern and eastern Melbourne metropolitan area over a forward planning period of five years. The information includes a description of our network, asset management approach, planning and forecasting methods, demand forecast and demand management activities. It also provides information on the capacity of the network and system limitations for sub-transmission lines, zone substations and some heavily loaded 22kV feeders and possible options being considered to address these limitations. Information on our planned asset replacement, retirement and de-rating works are included. Our network performance in the area of power quality and reliability is covered as well as information on metering and information technology systems. Some information regarding planning for transmission to distribution connection points required by clause 5.13 of the NER is covered in the Transmission Connection Planning Report. This Distribution Annual Planning Report also covers our obligations under clause 3.5 of the Victorian Electricity Distribution Code.
       
      See Distribution Infrastructure Maps and DAPR (can be accessed in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge only).

      Distribution System Limitations Template - prepared in accordance with clause 5.13 of the National Electricity Rules (NER). This template provides open format network data relating to projects to be undertaken within the five year forward planning period. This data is to be read with the support of the Distribution Annual Planning Report

      Three Year System Limitations Load Profile – this is the last three years of asset loading in half hour intervals. This data is provided to support assets reported in the Distribution System Limitation Template.

      Queries on the report may be directed to Jason Pollock on (03) 9695 6490.

     

  • Solar PV Systems and Anti-islanding
    You can read more about the regulatory requirement of owning a Solar PV System and the Annual Anti-islanding Test that needs to be performed to maintain the system.