Victoria

AEMO

In Victoria, AEMO plans and procures network services – augmentations to the Declared Shared Network (DSN) and the maintenance and operation of the network over the long term – and processes all applications to connect to the DSN.

While AEMO can procure the construction of an augmentation to the DSN from a variety of construction providers, the maintenance and operation of the DSN must be delivered by a declared transmission system operator (DTSO) that is registered with AEMO. DTSOs and the DSN are defined in the National Electricity Law.  

The roles of AEMO and DTSOs in respect of the DSN are detailed in Clause 5.3.7A of the National Electricity Rules.

For network connections at or below 66 kV, connection applicants should approach the relevant DNSP (distribution network service provider). DNSPs in Victoria are listed below.

DTSOs

DTSOs maintain and operate the DSN. In the majority of cases, the incumbent DTSO is SP AusNet, which owns most of the transmission assets that comprise the DSN. Other network service providers may be selected as a DTSO for new connections. A list of current DTSOs in Victoria is available at Victorian Government Gazette.

DNSPs

DNSPs process all connection applications to the distribution network. In Victoria, there are five DNSPs, each responsible for managing the distribution networks that deliver electricity to homes and businesses in their allocated area. These DNSPs are:

• Citipower

  central and inner suburban Melbourne

• Powercor

  outer western Melbourne; central and western Victoria

• Jemena

  north-west Melbourne

• SP AusNet

  eastern Victoria

• United Energy

  south-east Melbourne; Mornington Peninsula.

Planning and Licensing Authorities

State and local government authorities are responsible for licensing generators and networks, and approving construction projects. In Victoria:

• the Department of Primary Industries is responsible for energy policy development and regulation
• the Essential Services Commission is responsible for licensing generators and networks
• the Department of Planning and Community Development is responsible for urban and environmental planning
• EnergySafe Victoria oversees the safety aspects of the design, construction and maintenance of electricity networks.