Project Assessment Draft Report – Summary
Regulatory Investment Test – Transmission - June 2022
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).
AusNet Services and United Energy are undertaking this Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to evaluate options to maintain supply reliability in the Cranbourne area.
The Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR), which represents the first step in the RIT-T process in accordance with clause 5.16 of the National Electricity Rules (NER) and section 4.2 of the RIT-T Application Guidelines was published in June 2020. This report, the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR), is the second stage of the RIT-T and provides information about the draft conclusions of the RIT-T.
Two non-network proposals were received during the RIT-T PSCR consultation.
The preferred option to address the asset failure risk and load growth at CBTS is the installation of an additional 220/66 kV transformer, bus and associated 220kV and 66 kV switchgear.
AusNet Services and United Energy welcome written submissions on the issues and the credible options presented in this PADR. Submissions should be emailed to rittconsultations@ausnetservices.com.au and planning@ue.com.au on or before 8 August 2022. In the subject field, please reference ‘RIT-T PADR Cranbourne Terminal Station.’
[1] Australian Energy Market Commission, “National Electricity Rules Version 164” available at
https://www.aemc.gov.au/regulation/energy-rules/national-electricity-rules/current.
[2] Australian Energy Regulator, “Application guidelines Regulatory investment test for transmission” available at