Victoria is introducing new rules for how renewable energy and large-scale battery projects access the grid to better coordinate development, give industry certainty to invest, and ensure communities are engaged and see real benefits.
VicGrid today released an update on these new rules, known as the Victorian Access Regime, which are planned to come into effect in July 2027.
Currently Victoria has an open access regime where developers are able to seek access anywhere across the shared high voltage transmission network, regardless of whether this impacts existing solar, wind or battery operators.
Under the new regime, VicGrid will run a process to allocate access to the network within renewable energy zones. As part of this process, developers will need to demonstrate they will meet government expectations on community engagement and benefit sharing.
Developers seeking access outside a renewable energy zone will need to pass a test, called a grid impact assessment, and demonstrate their connection won't negatively impact generators within a zone. They will also need to demonstrate they will meet government expectations on community engagement and benefit sharing.
VicGrid Chief Executive Alistair Parker said the new access regime had been developed through consultation with industry, communities and regional stakeholders and would play a crucial role in ensuring an orderly transition to renewable energy.
'Renewable development in Victoria needs to be well managed so we can deliver the new energy sources we need in a way that minimises impacts, treats communities with respect and creates real benefits,' he said.
'The Victorian Access Regime will help us focus development in the right places and give developers inside renewable energy zones certainty their access to the grid won’t be impacted in the future by projects outside the zones.'
'Under this new regime, all developers - whether they are inside or outside a zone - will be required to demonstrate how they will meet government expectations on community engagement and benefit sharing as a condition of being granted access to the grid.'
The update released today sets out how the new arrangements will be progressively implemented. Until July next year, projects will connect through the existing open access arrangements, but VicGrid will be working with them to ensure they respond to government expectations on engagement and benefit sharing.
There will be a transitional period to recognise the status of projects that are well-advanced under the current access regime. This will involve a one-off initial allocation process to grant access to the grid, which will provide early certainty for eligible projects inside and outside renewable energy zones. Projects will be eligible to take part in the initial allocation process if they can demonstrate advanced progress against development, planning and commercial approvals, or if they are part of the Commonwealth’s Capacity Investment Scheme.
The initial allocation will be followed by a standard renewable energy zone allocation to to provide access to the grid within the zones. Projects outside zones will be able to apply to go through the grid impact assessment process from the commencement of the Victorian Access Regime.
For more information and to download a copy of the Victorian Access Regime update paper, visit the Access Regime webpage.
Page last updated: 30/06/26