On 28 February 2025, TasNetworks submitted a cost pass through application seeking to recover the costs it had incurred in relation to its distribution network as a result of the 26 August–4 September 2024 storm in Tasmania.
This weather event caused significant damage to overhead power lines, with fallen trees and poles across all regions of Tasmania, leading to widespread power outages. In total, over 1,920 outages affected more than 221,000 customers, many of whom experienced multiple interruptions. Some remote and complex outages took up to 23 days to be restored.
The AER has determined that the 26 August–4 September 2024 storm met the definition of a natural disaster pass through event, and that the incremental costs meet the materiality threshold for a positive change event. The AER has approved a positive pass through amount of $4.19 million ($nominal, smoothed) to be recovered in the last three years of the 2024–29 regulatory control period as follows:
- $1.06 million to be recovered in 2026–27
- $1.73 million to be recovered in 2027–28
- $1.40 million to be recovered in 2028–29.