ElectraNet’s Northern Transmission Project (NTx) is being considered to support South Australia’s economic growth, enabling new electricity generation projects and strengthening transmission links for industrial expansion.
NTx is currently in early feasibility planning, with ElectraNet exploring options to construct a new transmission line, to be built in two sections — one from the Mid North to Greater Adelaide and another from the Mid North to Whyalla. This will help enhance network resilience and future-proof Adelaide’s electricity supply.
South Australia is on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation growth and jobs opportunity, as industries such as mining, manufacturing and data centres look to expand, attracted by the state’s strong energy resources and valuable minerals. As these industries grow, demand for electricity is set to increase significantly. This means our transmission network’s capacity needs to increase too, ensuring more power can flow where it’s needed.
This will unlock new economic development opportunities for our State, while driving regional jobs creation and helping protect electricity supply during extreme weather events.
In addition, the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has also recognised NTx as a priority energy project
If built, the NTx project will strengthen the capacity and reliability of South Australia’s electricity network by:
ElectraNet is exploring options to expand South Australia’s electricity transmission network by constructing a new high-capacity transmission line in two sections:
Not yet. NTx is currently undergoing a detailed cost-benefit analysis known as the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T). The project will only proceed if this process confirms it is the best solution for South Australian energy consumers. Approvals are required from Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) before the project can be confirmed for construction.
Viable corridors will be identified through engagement with stakeholders and based on a wide range of factors, including environmental and cultural heritage values, engineering feasibility and landholder and community feedback. Community input will play a vital role in shaping the final route.
For more information, check our:
No decision has been made on a preferred connection into the Adelaide electricity grid, with two approaches still under consideration – Para Substation at Gould Creek or a new location near the Torrens Island corridor. While both are being investigated, our Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) has found that a new high capacity 275kV transmission line between Bundey and a new substation site around Bolivar/Dry Creek delivers the greatest net benefits for South Australia.
For more information on our PADR, check our fact sheet.
Yes, ElectraNet is committed to ensuring landholders are fairly compensated when transmission infrastructure is hosted on their land.
Compensation is determined through a clear and structured process, with individual negotiations taking place with each impacted landholder. These discussions ensure that compensation reflects the specific circumstances of the property and project requirements.
More details on the compensation process will be available once the project route has been identified. We will continue working closely with landholders throughout this process to ensure we achieve fair and respectful outcomes.
Tax matters, including capital gains tax liability, can be complex and depend on the individual circumstances of each landholder. While compensation payments for the grant of an easement may have tax implications, these can vary based on factors such as ownership structure, property use and other personal considerations.
When ElectraNet projects are at the point of discussing compensation with directly affected landholders, we provide landholders with support to obtain guidance from a qualified tax professional to ensure they receive accurate and tailored advice.
A site access licence is a written agreement between a landholder and ElectraNet that gives us permission to enter their land to carry out early-stage project investigations, such as environmental and technical surveys.
The licence sets out what activities may occur, how long access is required (the term), and how and when we will notify the landholder before entering the property. This helps ensure arrangements are clear, activities are planned in advance, and the landholder’s rights and day-to-day operations are respected.
Having a site access licence in place is important to ensure ElectraNet has the landholder’s consent to access their private land.
A site access licence does not mean a final decision has been made about a project or its location, and it does not affect land ownership or commit the landholder to any future agreements. It simply allows us to undertake the investigations needed to inform ongoing planning and assessment.
NTx is unlikely to have a material impact on consumers’ overall electricity bills, as the transmission component accounts for only around 11% of the total charge.
The remainder of consumer electricity costs are determined by factors such as wholesale electricity prices, distribution, metering and retail charges, all of which fluctuate over time due to reasons unrelated to this project.
Yes, NTx will improve power stability by providing an alternative grid connection to Adelaide and the Mid North, which will help reduce the risk of blackouts during extreme weather events.
The towers will typically range from 50 to 75 metres in height. The distance between towers will generally be between 400 and 600 metres, depending on terrain and design requirements.
ElectraNet is committed to minimising environmental impacts as we develop energy and infrastructure solutions to support South Australia’s clean energy future.
Once the transmission line route is selected, a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and approvals process will be conducted, including consideration of potential effects on native flora and fauna.
We will also develop appropriate mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable species and habitats, reflecting our commitment to environmental management and community involvement.
More information on our environmental investigations will be made available as project planning continues, including opportunities for community input and public consultation.
The environmental approvals process will be split into two parts with NTx North (north of Bundey substation) and NTx South (south of Bundey substation) being assessed separately.
The key pathways and legislative frameworks are as follows:
State approvals
The project is expected to proceed as an impact assessed development under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. This process requires a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and includes:
Commonwealth approvals
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the project will likely be declared a Controlled Action due to the potential impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance, including threatened species and ecological communities.
Assessment will likely occur under the SA–Commonwealth bilateral agreement, which means a single EIS can satisfy both State and Federal requirements.
Other approvals and permits
Additional approvals, licences or permits may be required under legislation such as the:
Further details will be provided once the final route and potential impacts are confirmed.
Post-approval conditions
If the project is approved, ElectraNet will be required to meet strict conditions, including:
Visual impacts will be considered as part of the planning process. Community engagement will help identify and address concerns, ensuring the best possible outcomes are achieved within the project’s technical constraints.
Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible fields produced by the generation, transmission, distribution and use of electrical power, including electricity travelling through powerlines.
We are guided in our management of electric and magnetic fields by extensive scientific and medical research on the topic, which has concluded that EMFs within specified limits do not cause or contribute to adverse health effects.
ElectraNet continues to monitor EMF research, following good industry practice in the planning and development of new electrical assets for our high-voltage transmission network.
For more information on electric and magnetic fields, please refer to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and the World Health Organization websites.
High-voltage transmission lines are typically installed overhead. This is to ensure cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance and minimal impact on land use, especially in rural and agricultural regions where underground cables may disrupt soil structure, drainage patterns and restrict certain land uses.
The use of underground cables can also introduce technical complications, especially when used over long distances.
ElectraNet operates some underground transmission cables in metropolitan Adelaide to navigate space constraints and urban development, however the majority of high-voltage transmission lines are overhead.
Study Area
The broad region where a new NTx transmission line may be built, based on existing and future electricity demand. This is where our investigations begin.
Up to 100 kms wide.
Corridor
Narrower pathways within the study area that avoid key constraints – early findings are applied to ensure that the corridor excludes sensitive locations and protects features highly-valued by our stakeholders.
Two-to-30 kms wide.
Route
The specific line or lines we propose, based on detailed analysis and stakeholder input to find the best balance between technical, environmental and community factors.
200 metres to one km wide.
Easement
A defined strip of land where transmission infrastructure can be built and maintained — this is agreed with landholders and doesn’t change land ownership, just allows ElectraNet to establish and maintain infrastructure on the land.
60 to 100 metres wide.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is responsible for operating and planning the National Electricity Market (NEM), which supplies electricity to most of eastern and southern Australia.
Every two years, AEMO publishes the Integrated System Plan (ISP), a comprehensive roadmap outlining the optimal development path for the NEM to meet future energy needs. The ISP identifies necessary investments in generation, storage and transmission infrastructure to ensure a reliable, secure and affordable electricity supply as the system transitions towards net zero emissions.
ElectraNet contributes to the ISP by providing detailed insights into South Australia’s transmission network, including current capabilities, planned upgrades and forecasts of future electricity demand. Our local planning and analysis help inform the ISP’s development, ensuring that national strategies are grounded in regional realities.
Once the ISP is published, ElectraNet uses this as a guiding document to align our network development plans with the broader national vision, ensuring that our projects support the overall goals of the NEM.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is the independent national body that oversees electricity and gas markets to ensure they operate in the long-term interests of consumers. For ElectraNet, the AER plays a crucial role in regulating our operations and investments.
Every five years, ElectraNet submits a revenue proposal to the AER, outlining our forecast costs for operating, maintaining, upgrading, and augmenting South Australia’s transmission network in the long-term interests of electricity consumers. The AER reviews this proposal to determine the maximum revenue we can recover from customers, ensuring that our charges reasonably reflect efficient service delivery.
Additionally, the AER assesses major projects proposed by ElectraNet, like NTx, that our investments are justified, transparent and deliver value to consumers. Through this process, the AER ensures that ElectraNet’s decisions align with the national energy objective.
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