The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has dubbed the SA-NSW Interconnector a Priority 1 project under its Integrated System Plan (ISP), labelling it a ‘no regret’ investment.
SA Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, said, “In essence AEMO has labelled the SA-NSW Interconnector a ‘no brainer’ to deliver cheaper, more reliable electricity for South Australian households and businesses.
“The SA-NSW Interconnector delivers an average $66 savings for households and will deliver a raft of renewable energy projects and hundreds of local jobs along its proposed route.”
Modelling released in early 2019 showed that small and medium businesses with significant electricity consumption will save many thousands of dollars each year when the Interconnector is energised.
| Business | Annual Consumption (KWh) | Saving (Wholesale) | Saving (Net) |
| A suburban hotel in Adelaide | 798,000 | $12,000 | $10,500 |
| A suburban supermarket | 674,000 | $10,000 | $8900 |
| A Barossa winery | 656,000 | $9900 | $8650 |
| A fast food restaurant | 743,000 | $11,200 | $9800 |
| An Adelaide plains farmer who irrigates | 270,000 | $4000 | $3560 |
| A suburban service station | 509,000 | $7680 | $6710 |
“South Australia currently only has interconnection with Victoria which puts us at the end of the line and vulnerable to the type system risks that saw the entire state blacked out in 2016,” Mr van Holst Pellekaan said.
