Options Screening Report – Summary
Regulatory Investment Test – Distribution – February 2025
The East Gippsland 66kV network loop, the longest in AusNet’s system, serves over 71,200 customers and is geographically constrained, making it prone to voltage and capacity issues. The network originates from the Morwell Terminal Station (MWTS) and includes six zone substations (TGN, SLE, MFA, BDL, NLA, CNR). Increasing demand from customer growth, home electrification, and EV adoption is expected to exceed capacity by 2024/25 and reach the voltage collapse limit by 2031/32. Under worst-case N-1 conditions (MWTS-SLE outage), thermal limits would be exceeded, necessitating significant load curtailment.
To address these risks, AusNet has initiated the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D), to identify the most credible solution. Publication of this Options Screening Report (OSR) represents the first step in the RIT-D process in accordance with clause 5.17 of the National Electricity Rules (NER) and section 4.2 of the RIT-D Application Guidelines.
AusNet welcomes written submissions on the credible options presented in this OSR and invites proposals from proponents of potential non-network and SAPS options (stand-alone or in conjunction with a network solution) that meet the identified need. Any credible non-network options will be assessed alongside the network options at the next stage of the RIT-D.
Submissions should be emailed to ritdconsultations@ausnetservices.com.au on or before 16th May 2025. In the subject field, please reference ‘RIT-D OSR LD East Gippsland’. AusNet’s preference is that these submissions would be published on its website and AEMO’s website. If you do not want your submission to be made public, please clearly stipulate this at the time of lodgement.
Assessments of the options and responses to this OSR will be presented in the Draft Project Assessment Report (DPAR), which AusNet expect to publish by mid-June 2025.