Draft New England Renewable Energy Zone Access Scheme Declaration

Draft declaration

In July 2026, EnergyCo published the Draft New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Access Scheme Declaration to seek feedback on the proposed rules for how generation and storage projects would connect to transmission infrastructure in the New England REZ. 

Public consultation on the draft declaration was open from Monday 6 July to 6 August 2026 and is now closed. 

We invited submissions from stakeholders including renewable energy developers, industry stakeholders, landholders, local communities, and councils. 

The scheme will encourage investment, coordinate project development and generate funding for the Community and Employment Benefit Program.

If you had difficulty meeting the deadline please request an extension by emailing us at newengland.access@energyco.nsw.gov.au with ‘Your Name – Draft New England REZ Access Scheme Declaration’ in the subject line.

Read the draft access scheme declaration

Positions paper

We’ve released a positions paper to accompany the draft declaration. The positions paper provides further guidance to stakeholders about the proposed access scheme. It outlines the key design elements, the rationale behind these elements and how we’ve incorporated stakeholder feedback to date.

Read the positions paper

Draft consent assessment process

We've also sought feedback on a draft REZ Consent Assessment Process for projects connecting under the access scheme, including the proposed assessment criteria and agreement terms proponents would be required to enter into to formalise their consent.

Read the consent assessment

Sheep and solar panels - Metz solar farm
20240326_New England_EnergyCo_Walcha_Drone_TZ--9
20240326_New England_EnergyCo_Walcha_Drone_TZ--9. 

Watch webinar recordings

We held 2 webinars for community and industry stakeholders on 14 July 2026. These sessions provided an overview of the proposed access scheme and included question and answer sessions with project team members. 

Watch a recording of the community webinar

We held a webinar for community stakeholders from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm on 14 July 2026.

Watch the recording

Watch a recording of the industry webinar

We held a webinar for industry stakeholders from 1 pm to 2 pm on 14 July 2026.

Watch the recording

Hunter Transmision Project Millfield Community Engagement

Next steps

The New England REZ Access Scheme Declaration will be informed by the submissions received on the draft access scheme declaration. Subject to the Minister’s decision, if pursued, the New England REZ Access Scheme Declaration would be formally declared by the Minister for Energy and published in the NSW Government Gazette. 

We'll prepare a final positions paper to explain the rationale behind any changes to the final access scheme, if pursued, and how stakeholder feedback was considered. 

Further updates will be published on EnergyCo website and NSW Government Gazette website.

More information on generator connections and system strength will be available soon. You can sign up to the New England REZ e-newsletter to receive updates.

Register for updates

More information

New England Renewable Energy Zone
New England REZ network infrastructure project
Access schemes

Documents and resources

New England REZ Access Scheme fact sheet

New England REZ Access Scheme fact sheet (PDF, 1.8MB)

Capacity Methodology for Access Rights Regime

This document summarises how EnergyCo, in its role as the infrastructure planner for the New England REZ, intends to apply the Target Transmission Curtailment Level (TTCL) and Aggregate Maximum Capacity Cap (AMCC) under the New England REZ Access Scheme.

Capacity Methodology for Access Rights Regime (PDF, 5.1MB)

Previous consultations

Indicative Technical Requirements for generation and storage connections in New England Renewable Energy Zone (December 2025)

In December 2025 we published a discussion paper outlining our indicative technical requirements for generation and storage projects seeking to connect to the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

Download the discussion paper

Why released this paper

The New England REZ will bring together new solar, wind and storage projects, supported by new transmission infrastructure. To ensure the REZ operates safely, reliably and efficiently, We're developing a set of REZ access standards – technical requirements that generator and storage projects may need to meet when connecting to REZ network infrastructure.

This paper provided early guidance now so industry proponents can plan ahead. It outlines our indicative position on a range of technical requirements, including areas where they may differ from the standards normally applied under the National Electricity Rules.

What the paper covers

The discussion paper provides:

  • EnergyCo’s early views on a subset of technical requirements for solar, wind and battery projects
  • information on where we are proposing to apply minimum or automatic access standards
  • areas where requirements may differ based on the unique characteristics of the New England REZ
  • details on which requirements still need further power system studies before they can be defined
  • next steps on how access standards for New England REZ will be developed.  

The indicative requirements in the paper were not final and are evolving as REZ planning progresses.

New England Renewable Energy Zone Generation and Storage Consultation Paper (August 2025)

In August 2025, EnergyCo published the New England Renewable Energy Zone Generation and Storage Consultation Paper, outlining proposed design features under consideration for a potential access scheme, a connection assets model and the provision of system strength for the New England REZ.

We considered these submissions to inform the next stages of detailed design, shaping how we approach generation and storage for the New England REZ.

Download the consultation paper

Webinar

We hosted a public webinar on 26 August 2025 to provide stakeholders with an overview of the paper and key design questions, and provide an opportunity to participate in a Q&A.

Watch the recording

Documents

Consultation paper and related documents

Fact sheets

Industry information

Industry
Access schemes
General information

Contact the New England REZ team

Call us

Phone 1800 061 114 (toll free), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm

Email us

Send us an email at: nerez@energyco.nsw.gov.au

Explore the REZ engagement portal

Learn more, see upcoming events and provide feedback

Register for updates

Sign up for the New England REZ e-newsletter