“The CEC has supported the development of REZ frameworks across multiple NEM states over the last few years. A common theme encountered is the need for stronger value propositions for investors to develop projects in a REZ. While taxpayer value for money is of course front and centre, strong value signals for renewable investors are equally critical.
These value signals relate primarily to management of curtailment and potentially some reduction in connection times. However, there are also many costs to connecting a REZ: most obviously the access fees levied on connecting parties, which are often layered on top of levies related to community benefits and landholder payments.
Care must be taken to ensure the benefits of developing a project in a REZ clearly outweigh these costs. This is both a matter of substantive policy design as well as effective communication and industry engagement.”
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