Energy bill fears grow as transmission costs blow out
Billions of dollars of cost blowouts in transmission announced so far this year have fuelled worries about rising electricity bills for households and business.
The cost of building the three largest electricity transmission lines vital to Australia’s transition to clean energy has doubled to at least $16 billion since they were first announced. Further increases are feared, stoking concerns of a hit to power bills from projects vital to decarbonisation.
Australia is in the early stages of a construction wave of power cables able to carry electricity long distances from solar and wind farms that are often located in regional areas with limited or no connection to the existing electricity grid.
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clarification —
This article has been updated to reflect that the new cost of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone is $4.4 billion in 2021 dollars. The $5.4 billion figure provided by EnergyCo was nominal value.
