Planning Coordination

Joint planning with TransGrid

Endeavour Energy and TransGrid have a formal joint planning charter between the two companies. The joint planning working group is overseen by an executive steering committee.

Joint planning is carried with TransGrid on a biannual basis or as required. Agreed actions are minuted and action plans developed by each company as required.

Areas where network limitations and/or network developments affect the electricity networks of Endeavour Energy jointly with TransGrid are discussed below.

Process and methodology

Endeavour Energy confers with TransGrid on technical matters relating to Endeavour Energy’s connections with TransGrid at bulk supply points (TransGrid connection points). These matters include:

• forecast loads for all BSPs supplying Endeavour Energy’s network
• supply capability at all BSPs supplying Endeavour Energy’s network
• exchange of system modelling data
• coordination of loading requirements on individual BSPs and across other BSPs
• new BSP requirements and connection arrangements
• coordination of communication, protection and control requirements, and
• coordination of other operational requirements.

Clause 5.14.1 of the NER sets out the planning process and consultation requirements and includes requirements on forecasting, annual reviews, regulatory tests and consultations. The principal inputs to the planning process are:

• DNSP supply point load forecasts
• review of network capacity and utilisation
• planning criteria and indicators
• condition, operational and risk assessments
• transmission network load-flow analysis, and
• TransGrid planning reviews.

The relationship between the various elements in the planning process is shown in figure below.

_{Joint planning process with TransGrid}

Note that Endeavour Energy does not have any assets that are classed as “dual function assets” under the NER.

Overview of bulk supply Investments

Vineyard 132kV switchbay (Box Hill Supply)

A project requiring a switchbay at Vineyard Bulk Supply Point for supply to Box Hill is required in 2023.

Macarthur 66kV switchbay (Menangle Park Supply)

A 66kV switchbay required at Macarthur Bulk Supply Point has been built by TransGrid to supply the proposed Menangle Park Zone substation.  Menangle Park Zone Substation is now connected to Macarthur 66kV Bulk Supply Point.

Macarthur 66kV switchbay (Mt Gilead Supply)

A 66kV switchbay will be required at Macarthur Bulk Supply Point to supply the proposed Mt Gilead Zone Substation by 2028. The project is development driven.

Sydney West switchbay for South Erskine Park Zone Substation

One 132kV switchbay at Sydney West Bulk Supply Point to connect the South Erskine Park Zone Substation is under construction. South Erskine Park Zone Substation is now connected to Sydney West BSP via a 132kV switchbay.

Sydney West Switchbays for Large Customer Supplies

Two 132kV switchbays at Sydney West Bulk Supply Point to facilitate connections to a number of large customers have been constructed.

Sydney West switchbays for large customer supplies

Endeavour Energy is conducting discussions with TransGrid for further 132kV switchbays at Sydney West Bulk Supply Point to facilitate connections to a number of large customers.

Macarthur 66kV BSP augment

A second 330/66kV transformer at Macarthur Bulk Supply Point is scheduled to be installed by TransGrid in 2023.

Macarthur 132kV BSP augment

Joint Planning has determined that Macarthur BSP will require a second 330/132kV transformer to address emerging constraints in the supply region between Macarthur and Sydney West. Further joint planning is being conducted in conjunction with the need to establish a bulk supply point at Kemps Creek, as certainty of forecast loads in the area matures, to establish firm need dates which is currently estimated as 2025 under a central growth scenario.

Sydney West BSP augment

The current levels of applications for large data centres in the Sydney West supply area requires augmentation of Sydney West by 2027.

Bulk Supply Point for Western Sydney Priority Growth Area at Kemps Creek

Joint Planning has determined that a new bulk supply point will need to be established at TransGrid’s Kemps Creek 500/330 kV substation by 2031 according to current predictions under a central growth scenario. Further joint planning is being conducted to advance this project.

Other future Investments

Discussions are continuing with TransGrid in relation to:

• Managing Voltage, Power Factor and reverse power flows in relation to minimum demand at a number of connection points, notably Vineyard and Macarthur.
• Joint Planning investigations are underway with TransGrid to recommence the deferred Tomerong Bulk Supply point project due to emerging constraints in the South Coast supply network. Joint Planning investigations are underway to address constraints on TransGrid’s network under certain outage scenarios that will impose voltage constraints at Vineyard Bulk Supply Point.
• Joint Planning discussions have been initiated with TransGrid to investigate the feasibility of establishing a Bulk Supply Point at Appin to address emerging constraints in Endeavour Energy’s 66kV network in the area arising from a need to service substantial new residential developments.
• Protection changes required at TransGrid substations in relation to new zone substations that Endeavour Energy will be commissioning within between Sydney West and Macarthur connection changes.

Joint planning with other DNSPs

Joint planning between Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy follow the same principles as applied to the joint planning process with TransGrid. However, due to the limited number of dependencies between the companies’ networks, joint planning meetings are generally conducted on a needs basis.

Process and methodology

Formal joint planning meetings between the planning groups of the companies form the basis of the joint planning process as per the planning process with TransGrid.

Joint DNSP planning completed in preceding year

Endeavour Energy did not conduct formal joint planning meetings with Ausgrid during the year. A project to connect two of Ausgrid’s zone substations to Endeavour Energy’s Camellia sub-transmission substation is underway with two of the four 33kV connections now commissioned.

Endeavour Energy did not conduct joint planning with Essential Energy during the year.

Endeavour Energy held joint planning meetings with Sydney Trains mainly in relation to sharing of information relating to connection points and identifying any opportunities of mutual benefit.

Planned DNSP joint network investments

There is currently a project to supply Ausgrid’s Auburn and Lidcombe zone substations from Endeavour Energy’s Camellia Transmission Substation.

Consideration of non network alternatives in the planning process

Endeavour Energy considers non-network alternatives as an integrated part of network planning. When considering network investments in meeting demand growth, new connections or asset replacement, nonnetwork alternatives are considered to identify opportunities to defer or avoid network investment.

Endeavour screens potential network investments for non-network and new technology solutions to identify and evaluate credible solutions.

The NTMP tool allows us to assess network support options such as embedded generation, virtual power plants, grid-scale batteries, commercial customer direct load control and residential behavioural demand response.

This tool integrates existing network data and enables the efficient exploration of the net-benefits of various non-network solutions at a pre-feasibility stage, considering the various uncertainties and sensitivities.

The NTMP tool furnishes Endeavour Energy with the knowledge and business capabilities that will allow for the effective identification of new technology options as potential non-network alternatives.

The NER requires DNSPs to investigate non-network options by utilising a consultation process as part of the planning for major network investments. This is the RIT-D process shown in figure below.

This provides the opportunity for all interested parties and the community to submit options, ideas and comments allowing for the development of cost effective demand management and support non-network alternative options.

Our RIT-D non-network option investigation process is comprised of the following stages:

• a planning review to identify the emerging network constraints and credible network options
• screening for non-network options supported by the use of our New Technology Master Plan tool
• publish a Non-Network Options Report as part of a market consultation process to obtain proposals for alternative options from interested parties where a demand management approach is determined to be feasible
• evaluation of submissions to identify cost-effective credible non-network options
• evaluation of all credible options (network and non-network) to identify the most cost-effective option or combination of options, and
• negotiations with proponents of the successful proposal to implement the program if a non-network option is identified as the most cost-effective option.

All parties registered on Endeavour Energy’s register of interested parties are notified when a RIT-D document is published.

_{Regulatory RIT-D Process}