Secure supply and enable connections: Bairnsdale and surrounding areas
Final Project Assessment Report – Summary
Regulatory Investment Test – Distribution – March 2026
The installation and application of Raid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) technology at 22 AusNet zone substations was mandated the Victorian Government through the enactment of the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Amendment Regulations in 2016. To comply with the Regulations, AusNet completed its REFCL installation program at BDL April 2021. These works included the installation of two REFCLs that have a combined capacitive current limit of 225A. Subsequently, customer growth in the service area served by BDL means that capacitance exceeds the existing 225A limit, with the latest measured capacitive current being 273A and forecast to increase further.
If not addressed, additional network growth, particularly with underground cables, will mean the existing REFCL performance at BDL will become non-compliant and will be unable to reduce bushfire risk as intended.
The Notice of Determination which represents the first step in the RIT-D process in accordance with clause 5.17 of the National Electricity Rules (NER) and section 4.2 of the RIT-D Application Guidelines was published in October 2025. No non-network proposals were received during the RIT-D consultation phase. To improve the accuracy of the Draft Project Assessment Report (DPAR), AusNet updated the costs of the options and produced a new forecast for capacitance at BDL, which strengthened the preferred option and was published in October 2025. No responses were received during the consultation period, which closed on 12 December 2025. This Final Project Assessment Report (FPAR) completes the RIT D process and confirms the findings of the DPAR.
The preferred solution is concluded as to install a third GFN to increase the station capacitance headroom by 100A. The estimated capital cost of the preferred option is $23.25 million (in real $2025).
Any comments or enquiries should refer to ‘RIT-D FPAR BDL 3rd GFN’ in the subject heading be directed to: Email: [email protected].
In accordance with clause 5.17.5(c) of the NER, within 30 days of the date of publication of this FPAR, any party disputing the conclusion made in this FPAR should give notice of the dispute in writing setting out the grounds for the dispute (the dispute notice) to the AER with a copy of the dispute notice to AusNet via above email address. If there are no dispute notices within 30 days of the date of publication of this FPAR, AusNet will proceed to implement the preferred option subject to AER’s EDPR decision and AusNet’s internal approvals.