On 1 May 2026, APA Group submitted an application seeking an AER determination on whether the expenditure for proposed system security network support (SSNS) payments, and methodologies for such payments, set out in a draft contract for Basslink will likely be prudent and efficient.

The application sets out the terms for load shedding and generation tripping services to be procured by Basslink from Hydro Tasmania under the existing Frequency Control System Protection Scheme (FCSPS). The application also provides information to justify the prudency and efficiency of these terms against the AER’s assessment criteria set out in our System Security Network Support Payment guideline.

Due to confidentiality requirements, some elements of the application are redacted to protect confidential and commercial-in-confidence information related to specific terms of the draft contract, and ongoing contract negotiations. 

We invited energy consumers and other interested parties to make submissions on APA's Basslink SSNS payment contract review application. Submissions closed Thursday, 4 June 2026.

As this was only the second SSNS payment application the AER has received, we considered it important that stakeholders had an opportunity to provide feedback on the prudency and efficiency of the proposed payments and payment methodologies. 

In particular, we sought stakeholder views on:

• the process Basslink has followed to achieve the lowest possible cost outcome in the circumstances,
• the proposed contract payment structure. 

Due to confidentiality requirements, some elements of the application were redacted to protect confidential and commercial-in-confidence information related to specific terms of the draft contract, and ongoing contract negotiations.