Working with communities, industry and First Nations people, NSW is leading a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the NSW electricity network. Our plan, the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (Roadmap), supports the delivery of a network built on a mix of renewable technologies, including solar and wind, large-scale energy storage, like pumped hydro and big batteries, and new transmission infrastructure. To facilitate network investment on the scale required, the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (EII Act) provides for the contestable delivery of key network infrastructure projects. This means new network operators can construct and operate infrastructure such as the transmission network for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone which will connect to the existing grid.
About the Network-to-Network Connections Guidelines public consultation
Consultation closed
Public consultation on the Draft Network-to-Network Connection Guidelines ran from Tuesday 17 March to Tuesday 14 April 2026 and is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who provided submissions.
Recent experience has shown opportunities to improve how the current framework supports the planning, procurement and delivery of these major new network connections. In response, the Transmission Planning Review’s final report recommended measures to create a stronger network-to-network connections regime.
The NSW Government accepted these recommendations. In November 2025, it amended the Electricity Supply Act 1995 to allow the Minister for Energy to issue Network-to-Network Connection Guidelines and impose licence conditions in relation to them.
We prepared the Draft Network-to-Network Connection Guidelines (PDF, 1.4 MB) and a brief Consultation Paper (PDF, 547 KB) to support this work.
The consultation sought feedback on:
- the draft Guidelines
- the proposed licence condition requiring licensed network operators to comply with the Guidelines
- which provisions of the National Electricity Rules should be modified or disallowed to create a streamlined regulatory framework.
What happens next
We are reviewing feedback received during the consultation to help inform the final Network-to-Network Connection Guidelines, the proposed licence condition requiring licensed network operators to comply with the Guidelines, and required derogations from the National Electricity Rules.
Further updates will be published on this page when outcomes are finalised.
Learn more about the NSW electricity transition
Find out how the NSW Government is bringing more affordable, clean and reliable energy, new jobs and apprenticeships, and new economic opportunities to communities across the state.