Regulators want to know how major NSW energy plans will be paid for. 

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is inviting feedback on its draft guideline for the 2024 Review of the New South Wales (NSW) contribution determination. 

This guideline pertains to cost recovery under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

The Roadmap aims to ensure that the Scheme Financial Vehicle, which funds the initiative, can meet its liabilities. 

These include the costs associated with underwriting new renewable generation, storage investment, network investment, and the administration of Roadmap entities.

The draft guideline outlines the AER's process and methodology for making contribution determinations under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (EII Act). 

In revising the guideline, the AER intends to incorporate lessons from previous determinations, streamline the process for NSW Roadmap entities to submit data, and clarify which costs should be included in the entities' forecasts.

The AER is calling for submissions on the draft guideline by 8 August 2024. 

Stakeholders are encouraged to email their feedback to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line ‘2024 contribution determination guideline review - submission’. 

The feedback will contribute to the final guideline, expected to be published in August 2024.

The AER prefers that submissions be made publicly available to facilitate transparency in the consultation process. Unless confidentiality is requested, all submissions will be treated as public documents.

The AER's role as regulator under the EII Act began in November 2021. Each year, the AER must determine the contribution amounts needed to fund the Roadmap. 

The Scheme Financial Vehicle recovers these costs from NSW distribution network service providers, who then pass them on to electricity consumers through retail bills. 

In the context of the National Electricity Rules (NER), the Roadmap’s contribution determination qualifies as a jurisdictional scheme, meeting the eligibility criteria assessed by the AER.