On 18 May 2026, AusNet submitted a cost pass through application seeking to recover costs it has incurred as a result of the Longwood and Walwa bushfires which occurred in January 2026. AusNet is proposing an increased revenue allowance of $16.1 million ($nominal, smoothed) to be recovered in 2027-28.

We invite energy consumers and other interested parties to make submissions on AusNet’s cost pass through application by close of business Thursday, 9 July 2026.

The AER’s role is to determine whether a positive change event as defined in the National Electricity Rules (NER) has occurred, and if so, what is the incremental revenue amount which should be passed through to network users. To best assist and inform the AER in making its determination, interested parties may wish to address the following questions:

• Do the January 2026 bushfires meet the definition of a cost pass through event under clause 6.6.1(a1) of the NER and AusNet’s current revenue determination?
• Is the increase in costs that AusNet has incurred as a result of the event material?
• Are the costs identified by AusNet (including replacement of damaged network assets and emergency response works such as attending to network incidents, vegetation management and Guaranteed Service Level payments) incremental to costs already allowed for in its current revenue determination, and related solely to the occurrence of the pass through event?
• Are the operational costs incurred by AusNet in relation to the event efficient and prudent in the circumstances?
• Are the decisions and actions AusNet has taken in relation to the event efficient?
• Are there any other factors the AER should take into account in making its determination?

Submissions should be emailed Attention: Ben Stonehouse, Acting General Manager, Network Expenditure at costpassthroughsaer [dot] gov [dot] au (costpassthroughs[at]aer[dot]gov[dot]au).

We prefer that all submissions be publicly available to facilitate an informed and transparent consultative process. We will treat submissions as public documents unless otherwise requested. All non-confidential submissions will be placed on the AER's website. For further information regarding the AER's use and disclosure of information provided to it, see the ACCC/AER Information Policy.

We request parties wishing to submit confidential information:

• clearly identify the information that is the subject of the confidentiality claim
• provide a non-confidential version of the submission in a form suitable for publication.