Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, and Essential Energy launch the inaugural NSW Distribution System Plan (DSP), a groundbreaking approach to deliver billions of dollars in savings and provide a critical buffer for the state’s energy transition.
The DSP represents the first time the three NSW electricity distribution businesses have come together to develop a single, unified view of how to fully leverage and optimise the state’s existing distribution network to meet future energy needs.
Independent modelling shows NSW could unlock between $2 billion to $4.3 billion in value by utilising available network capacity and integrating Consumer Energy Resources (CER) like rooftop solar, batteries, and electric vehicles.
Ausgrid’s Group Executive, External Affairs & Strategy, Tim Jarratt says the plan also provides a two-to-five-year buffer to the energy transition timeline, ensuring a smoother, more orderly, and resilient shift.
“The DSP is an Australia-first roadmap that finally shines a light on the ‘missing middle’ – our distribution networks.
“It proves that by using our existing assets smarter, we can deliver billions of dollars in value, significantly de-risk the transition, and buy up to five years of breathing room while critical transmission infrastructure is built,” he says.
Endeavour Energy’s General Manager, Future Grid & Asset Management, Colin Crisafulli says optimising the grid would maximise the value of consumer resources like solar, batteries, and electric vehicles.
“We’re not just waiting for major transmission to be built, we’re actively transforming today’s network into a dynamic, flexible platform that coordinates customer energy resources in real time. This reduces system pressure, accelerates clean energy integration, and lowers costs for all customers.
“Our modelling shows that pushing storage deeper into the distribution network and finding customer centric ways of coordinating customer energy resources can defer expensive network upgrades by as much as 15 years. A proactive, network-led approach could also fast-track EV adoption by half a million vehicles in NSW, a huge leap forward for faster transport decarbonisation,” he says.
By unlocking wind capacity and building more generation closer to demand, the DSP also shows we can reduce our reliance on interconnection with other states.
Essential Energy’s Chief of Customer and Corporate Affairs, Annie Pearson says the report also highlights broader areas of reform that need to be addressed to ensure benefits and costs are shared fairly across NSW communities.
“It is vital that we put our communities first, supporting them in their choice around energy resources, while providing everyone with the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a cleaner, fairer energy system. This means accelerating reforms regarding the cost allocation of the transition, the role of shared infrastructure, like community batteries, and how to co-ordinate new industries, like data centres,” she says.
Media Release: Essential Energy
