On 5 April 2022, Transgrid submitted its stage 1 contingent project application to the AER seeking an increase to their its revenue in accordance with clause 6A.8.2 of the NER to fund early works associated with the delivery of the staged HumeLink contingent project.

The HumeLink project is a transmission upgrade connecting the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme to Bannaby. The HumeLink project is delivered across two stages: the early works stage comprised of pre-construction activities and the implementation stage. This project relates to the preferred network investment option identified through Transgrid’s HumeLink Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T).

The AER is required to make a determination on this contingent project application under clause 6A.8.2 of the NER.

We invited energy consumers and other interested parties to make submissions on Transgrid's contingent project application. The period for submissions has now closed.

The HumeLink project is delivered across two stages: the early works stage comprised of pre-construction activities and the implementation stage. This is to enable project uncertainty to be reduced and to identify project risks before committing to the full project.

The AER’s expectation in respect to the staging of the contingent project application process is set out in two letters between the AER and Transgrid, dated 14 September 2020 (from TransGrid) and 13 October 2020 (from the AER).