AusNet Services and United Energy are regulated Victorian Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) that supply electrical distribution services to more than 745,000 and 685,000 customers, respectively. AusNet Services’ electricity distribution network covers eastern rural Victoria and the fringe of the northern and eastern Melbourne metropolitan area, while United Energy’s electricity distribution network covers the east and south east Melbourne suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula.
In Victoria, the DNSPs have responsibility for planning and directing augmentation of the transmission connection assets that connect their distribution systems to the Victorian Shared Transmission System. This project relates to the transmission connection assets at Cranbourne Terminal Station (CBTS) and as such is subject to a regulatory investment test for transmission (RIT-T).
CBTS provides supply approximately 168,000 customers in parts of the AusNet Services and United Energy electricity distribution networks. This project specification consultation report (PSCR) is stage one of the Cranbourne Terminal Station Electricity Supply RIT-T consultation process and has been jointly prepared by AusNet Services and United Energy in accordance with the requirements of Clause 5.16 of the National Electricity Rules (NER). This PSCR contains information to enable prospective non-network providers to propose alternative options, such as demand side response solutions or embedded generation.
The geographic area supplied by CBTS spans from Narre Warren in the north to Clyde in the south, and from Pakenham in the east to Carrum and Frankston in the west. Electricity demand in the CBTS geographic area has been amongst the fastest growing regions in Victoria and the station has reached capacity. The summer peak demand has grown at an average of 3.5% per annum and is forecast to continue growing strongly. Due to the strong demand growth in the area, without intervening action the level of expected unserved energy (EUSE) is forecast to grow from $432k in 2020-21 to 13.6 million by 2028-29, significantly deteriorating the level of customer reliability due to insufficient supply capacity from CBTS.
AusNet Services and United Energy have jointed identified six potentially credible options that could address the identified need, with the proposed preferred option currently identified as installing a fourth 150 MVA 220/66 kV transformer at CBTS by 2022/23, at an estimated capital cost of $26.3 million.
AusNet Services and United Energy welcome written submissions or enquires on the topics and the credible options presented in the PSCR and invite proposals from proponents of potential non-network options. Submissions will be published, unless directed otherwise by the party making the submission, and should be emailed to both Jason.Pollock@AusNetServices.com.au and Christopher.Roberts@ue.com.au on or before 25 September 2020.
Following conclusion of the PSCR consultation period, AusNet Services and United Energy will, having regard to any submissions received on the PSCR, prepare and publish a project assessment draft report (PADR). AusNet Services and United Energy intend on publishing the PADR in Q4 2020.