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New rules for managing access to the grid
VicGrid, together with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), is setting new rules for how renewable energy generation and storage projects will access Victoria’s transmission network.
The new approach, known as the Victorian Access Regime aims to
- Encourage development in renewable energy zones
- Give developers more confidence that they can supply energy into the market
- Increase transparency about what projects must do to gain access, including requirements to engage with and deliver economic benefits to landholders, communities and Traditional Owners.
Each renewable energy zone will have a set limit on how much space on the transmission network is available to new renewable energy projects within the zone.
Projects will need to apply for access, and access will be allocated through a competitive tender process based on merit criteria.
Once these new arrangements are in place, all new generation and storage projects connecting to Victoria's transmission network will need an access authority, or licence, before they can receive an offer to connect to the network.
The Victorian Access Regime has been designed through extensive consultation with community and industry.
Victorian Access Regime implementation
The Victorian Access Regime update paper below sets out the indicative revised program, along with updates on key topics raised during the consultation process.
The new Victorian Access Regime is now expected to start in mid-2027. Until then, the current open access arrangements under the National Electricity Rules will continue to apply.
Between now and then, VicGrid, together with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, is focused on working with Traditional Owners, industry and communities, to prepare for the commencement of the new access arrangements by:
- Working with projects to ensure their engagement is consistent with the new Community Engagement and Social Value Guidelines between now and the Victorian Access Regime commencing. This will support industry in preparing for the assessment that will be undertaken as part of the new access arrangements.
- Commencing planning for readiness activities to support the implementation of Victoria’s renewable energy zones.
- Continuing consultation on and refinement of key elements of the Victorian Access Regime design and implementation approach.
You can download the full update paper below.
Delivering better engagement, social value and economic benefits
Under these new arrangements, every project, whether it is in a renewable energy zone or not, must show how it will engage meaningfully with landholders, neighbours and communities, and deliver real benefits.
Developers will be required to demonstrate they are meeting government expectations on engagement and benefits, set out in the Community Engagement and Social Value guidelines.
Find out about the recently released guidelines on our Community engagement and social value guidelines page.
Access for projects outside renewable energy zones
When it commences, the Victorian Access Regime will also introduce a new process for renewable generation and storage developers seeking to access the grid outside renewable energy zones.
Developers seeking access outside a renewable energy zone will need to pass a test that we call a Grid Impact Assessment and demonstrate that their connection won't negatively impact generators within a zone.
They will also need to demonstrate they meet government expectations for community and Traditional Owner engagement and the delivery of meaningful benefits, as set out in the Community Engagement and Social Value Guidelines.
For more information, read the draft Grid Impact Assessment Guidelines on Engage Victoria.
What we heard through feedback
From September to November 2025, we received 162 submissions and engaged through in-person and online meetings, roundtables, workshops, briefings, webinars, a phone contact centre and email inbox.
We’ve published 2 reports summarising the feedback we received on the new network access arrangements and engagement and social value expectations.
Download the reports below and view the public submissions at Engage Victoria.
Next steps
We’re continuing to undertake the work required to support the implementation of the Victorian Access Regime. We recognise the importance of giving developers and other stakeholders clear, end-to-end guidance on the steps required to secure access in Victoria.
With the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, we plan to publish additional information and draft guidance on how the new access regime will work via draft design instruments and documents in mid-late 2026.
This will include:
- The Victorian Access Regime Handbook (Access Handbook): to provide practical information about how the Victorian Access Regime will be implemented, including outlining the initial allocation processes, standard renewable energy zone access allocation process, and standard grid impact assessment processes.
- Revised draft Grid Impact Assessment Guidelines: to set out the requirements for projects outside zones, and technologies not specified as eligible in renewable energy zone schemes, to apply for a grid impact authority.
- Draft renewable energy zone schemes: to set out the requirements for eligible projects inside a zone to apply for a renewable energy zone scheme authority.
Alongside the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, VicGrid will be seeking feedback from Traditional Owners, industry, community, landholders and other stakeholders on these documents before finalising them ahead of the Victorian Access Regime, which is targeted to commence in July 2027.
Frequently asked questions
The Victorian Access Regime is a new set of rules that will manage how renewable energy projects connect to the electricity grid in Victoria. It is designed to better coordinate where projects are built, how they connect, and how they deliver benefits to communities.
Under the current open access system, developers can connect projects almost anywhere on the transmission network if they meet technical requirements.
The new approach introduces a more coordinated system, where:
- Access within renewable energy zones is allocated through a structured process
- Projects outside renewable energy zones must demonstrate they do not limit the ability of projects inside zones to supply their power to the grid.
- Regardless of where a project is proposed, it must meet strict requirements, including securing planning and environmental approvals, and meeting clear expectations for community engagement and delivering social and economic value.
- Improved planning reduces congestion and supports better outcomes for communities.
The Victorian Access Regime is expected to commence in July 2027, subject to government approvals. Until then, the current system will continue to apply.
The new regime is designed to improve outcomes for communities by:
- Improving how renewable projects are planned in each region
- Reducing the likelihood of too many projects connecting in one area
- Ensuring clearer and more consistent expectations for community engagementRequiring projects to demonstrate how they will engage with communities and deliver social and economic benefits as a condition of gaining and keeping access to the grid
- Introducing clearer accountability, with conditions on projects that can be monitored and enforced over time
Communities and local government can expect earlier and more consistent engagement across projects.
It is currently proposed that:
- Projects that are granted access to the grid will be subject to conditions, including commitments to community engagement and benefit sharing
- These conditions will be monitored, and failure to comply may result in penalties or, in some cases, loss of access
- This helps ensure communities can have confidence that commitments made by developers are followed through on
Some projects you’re seeing today were proposed or in development before renewable energy zones were established, when developers could connect more freely across the network.
Each project is also shaped by a range of practical factors, such as land availability, environmental considerations, wind or solar resources, and where it can connect to the grid.
Renewable energy zones guide where development is best located overall, but projects still need to work with real conditions on the ground, which means they don’t always fit neatly within a boundary.
Over time, projects may still be proposed outside these areas where it is appropriate and they can meet all requirements, including planning and environmental approvals, protecting the electricity system, and meeting expectations for community engagement and social value.
Each zone will have a set limit on how much new renewable energy can be connected.
We are proposing to set access limits that reflect how much electricity the network can carry at a given time, based on current infrastructure and planned upgrades.
In determining how much of the access limit is allocated, we will consider:
- The amount of electricity Victoria needs to generate to meet increasing demand
- The size of the zone and the density of projects
- Whether developers are meeting expectations for landholder, community and Traditional Owner engagement, and adding social value through initiatives and economic development
- This process will ensure Victoria produces enough energy to meet demand, while minimising the impact on communities, Traditional Owners, agriculture and the environment.
Projects outside renewable energy zones will be subject to a test we call a Grid Impact Assessment.
We are designing the assessment to ensure these projects do not limit the amount of power projects within a zone can supply to the grid. These projects are subject to the same community engagement standards and requirements to deliver economic benefits to community, landholders and Traditional Owners as those within zones.
We sought feedback on this approach when we released the Grid Impact Assessment Consultation Paper in January 2025, and this feedback has informed the next stage of design work in developing draft guidelines.
Page last updated: 30/06/26
