Dr Tamblyn was one of two expert advisors appointed by the then Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER) to provide advice on the establishment of the National Energy Consumer Advocacy Body (now Energy Consumers Australia). He was a member of the expert panel that conducted the 2012 review of the energy market Limited Merits Review regime for SCER. Dr Tamblyn is also a former member of the Solar Flagships Council. Before chairing the AEMC, he gained significant experience in regulation of public utility services, including the positions of Chairman of the Essential Services Commission (Victoria) and Regulator-General (Victoria). He has also held senior positions in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Dr Tamblyn served on Tasmania’s Electricity Supply Industry Expert Panel, which advised the Tasmanian Government on options for improving the performance of the Tasmanian electricity supply industry.
9 Planning and approval requirements This chapter explores the potential governance arrangements which could assist with the business case, technical specifications and regulatory approval stages if the market circumstances emerge in the future that support making a commitment to develop a 2IC. It draws on work by the Electricity Supply Industry Expert Panel in 2012 to highlight the issues and learning from the development of Basslink. The Australian Government’s Major Projects Approval Agency has also identified potential cross-jurisdictional processes that a 2IC proponent may need to navigate. Key findings The development of a 2IC would be a major project development in Australia which would need to comply with relevant regulatory approvals across multiple levels of government. It would probably be declared a Project of State Significance in Tasmania because it would be a major development with statewide implications. If future market conditions indicate that a 2IC would be viable, the Tasmanian Government could consider establishing governance arrangements similar to those adopted for Basslink. The process undertaken for Basslink provides useful insight, especially regarding the management of potential delays in the regulatory approval processes. The initial groundwork on environmental and regulatory approvals, including a RIT-T if a 2IC was to be regulated, could be facilitated by establishing a development board. The Major Projects Approval Agency could play a role in assisting a 2IC proponent to navigate the relevant regulatory requirements and could facilitate engagement with communities, government and business. A coordinated approach could potentially streamline the development and approval process for a 2IC, saving time and money. 9.1 Basslink approval process Basslink is the only major subsea electricity cable to have been constructed in Australia. The development and approval stage took five years (1997–2002) and the construction of the interconnector took an additional three years (2002−2005). Figure 11 illustrates the approval and construction process for Basslink. Figure 11: Basslink approval and construction process Key bodies which facilitated the development and approval processes for Basslink are discussed below. Basslink Development Steering Committee The Tasmanian Government established the Basslink Development Steering Committee (BDSC) in June 1997. The BDSC provided the state with advice on the economic, technical and environmental feasibility of Basslink with a view to having a merchant interconnector built and operating within four years. The BDSC found that interconnection with Victoria would be technically feasible and economically viable for proponents. The BDSC also recommended that the Tasmanian Government call for expressions of interest from proponents interested in developing an interconnector.