The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has approved Transmission Company Victoria’s (TCV) electricity transmission license, following an extensive public consultation and engagement process.
TCV lodged its application on 5 September 2024, seeking a licence to operate transmission infrastructure and transmit electricity in connection with the Victoria New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) project in Victoria.
VNI West is new transmission line being developed between the two states. TCV said it will support new generation and storage projects connecting to the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the sharing of the lowest-cost electricity between states, helping maintain reliability as coal-fired power stations retire and energy demand continues to grow.
The consultation process included a combination of public webinars and an in-person public information session in Stawell, resulting in more than 100 submissions.
The ESC said it appreciates the time and effort people took to make a submission on TCV’s licence application and the concerns raised through the process, with all submissions carefully considered and used to help inform the decision.
Submissions were informative and addressed a wide range of important topics that were carefully considered within ESC’s assessment criteria.
ESC agreed that some of the issues raised needed to be addressed, and as such several conditions have been placed on the licence, including:
- Stronger visibility of the use of land access powers
- Advance notification for any future sale or change of ownership of TCV
- Requirements for TCV to have its technical capacity assessed prior to transmitting electricity
As a licensee, TCV must comply with all the legal requirements of the licence. Any breaches will be subject to the Commissions’ compliance and enforcement powers, including breaches of the Land Access Code of Practice (LACoP).
The LACoP introduced enforceable rules that TCV must comply with, including how and when it provides information to landowners and when it engages with them. The LACoP also requires transmission companies to be open, honest and respectful in their communication with landowners.
TCV said it continues to engage with landholders and communities along a 70m preferred easement for the new transmission line, which will run from Bulgana to north of Kerang in north-west Victoria.
The project is currently progressing design, planning and approvals, with a comprehensive impact assessment underway via a regulatory Environment Effects Statement (EES).
VNI West Project Executive, Claire Cass, welcomed the news.
“This is an important milestone in the development of VNI West. We will continue to work closely with landholders and the community to finalise the project design with the least impact to people, farming and the environment.”
