On 31 October 2025, we received an application from APA under rule 80 of the National Gas Rules (NGR) seeking an advanced determination for its capital expenditure for the Victorian Transmission System (VTS). APA's application is to support investment to expand the South West Pipeline. APA submitted updates to its application on 10 and 14 November 2025.
APA is seeking a determination that its proposed capital expenditure is conforming (under rule 79 of the NGR) so that it will be included in the regulatory asset base as part of its 2028-33 access arrangement.
The application has been made within the current access arrangement period (2023-28). We have decided to undertake public consultation before making a determination.
On 11 December 2025, 10-11am (AEDT) we hosted an online public forum to discuss APA's rule 80 application on expansion of the South West Pipeline and the combined presentation slides are now available.
Interested stakeholders were invited to provide submissions on APA's rule 80 application on expansion of the South West Pipeline by Monday, 19 January 2026.
APA addendum to its application
On 10 April 2026, following a short suspension of our assessment process (requested by APA so it could work with AEMO on South West Pipeline investment options), APA submitted an addendum to its Rule 80 application. The addendum reiterates APA’s initial proposal to augment the South West Pipeline by installing 2 new compressor stations, but incorporates early works expenditure for a future project(s) to loop the South West Pipeline, in addition to increased compressor costs.
On 8 April 2026, we received a letter from AEMO, indicating that APA has provided it with additional information on mitigating reliability and operability risks associated with APA’s proposed compression-based augmentation project.
We intend to release our draft determination on APA’s updated application in coming weeks and invite stakeholder submissions. We intend to release our final determination no later than June-July, as per our indicative timetable for this project.