Assessing the costs of the NSW roadmap
The AER has been tasked with making annual contribution determinations that set out the costs of implementing the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
We do this in accordance with the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (EII Act), with each determination required to be made by 28 February each year.
These annual costs are passed through by the 3 NSW distributors to NSW consumers as part of the network component in their electricity bills.
The latest determination
On 11 February 2026, the AER made its contribution determination for cost recovery under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap for the 2026–27 financial year.
The total contribution determination amount for 2026−27 is $593.16 million.
The amounts required to be paid by each NSW distribution network service provider (DNSP) are:
- Ausgrid $254.23 million.
- Endeavour Energy $221.40 million.
- Essential Energy $117.53 million.
We have gazetted our contribution determination as required by the EII Act.
The NSW Scheme Financial Vehicle must now implement the contribution determination by issuing quarterly contribution orders to NSW distributors. The NSW distributors will recover the amounts through 2026−27 network charges approved by the AER under the National Electricity Rules.
During the 2026 calendar year the AER plans to run a public consultation process regarding the method for the contribution determination under section 56 of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (NSW), and the method for determining the percentage of the contribution determination relating to long-term energy service agreements, under clause 36 of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Regulation 2021 (NSW).
