The machinery, read end to end

Market + rules

Data centres want to connect more power than NSW uses on an average day. Who pays for that is open for comment until 14 September

Up to 28 GW of data centre connection requests as at July 2026, about 13 GW of it in advanced discussions, which the government says is more than the state’s average daily demand. It is consulting on recovering the network cost from operators rather than households. Submissions close 14 September 2026.

Market + rules

The state’s investment fast-track has endorsed 31 projects worth $86 billion. Two of them are in the Hunter

The Investment Delivery Authority endorsed 16 projects worth $34.4 billion in March, then 15 data centre projects worth $51.9 billion three weeks later. AGL’s Hunter energy hub and the Port of Newcastle clean energy precinct are on the list. A third carries the region’s name and is proposed for Narrabri. Endorsement is not an approval.

Market + rules

The network charge is the biggest part of your power bill. Here is who sets it, and when you get a say

Network is 39 to 54 per cent of a Default Market Offer price, ahead of wholesale. Your retailer does not set it and Ausgrid does not set it alone. The AER does, five years at a time, and the process for Ausgrid’s 2029-34 period starts on 31 October 2026.

Market + rules

If your power keeps going out, Ausgrid may owe you money. Here is the threshold

Ausgrid must compensate customers whose supply is interrupted for long enough or often enough in a financial year. The two tiers and what they pay, the exclusion that catches most storm outages, and a claim deadline stated two different ways on Ausgrid’s own pages.

Market + rules

The rules that set the biggest part of your power bill are under review, and submissions close 24 September

Network costs are the largest component of a power bill, on the AEMC's own account. Its Package 2 consultation paper asks whether the revenue process is efficient, whether the incentives point the right way, and who carries the risk. Submissions close 24 September.

Market + rules

The energy regulator names its priorities a year ahead. We checked all five against what it did

The AER sets its compliance priorities twelve months in advance and reports against them in order, which makes the promise checkable. Reading both reports side by side: one priority produced completed enforcement, one produced live proceedings, and three produced review, guidance and monitoring.

17 August 2026