The NEM is undergoing its fastest-ever transformation. Coal is exiting, renewables are dominating, and grid stability is the defining challenge.
View live wholesale prices →Stats updated: 2026-07-19
Australian electricity prices remain elevated in 2026 due to a combination of factors, primarily the nation's reliance on expensive and ageing coal and gas infrastructure. Wholesale electricity spot prices, for instance, tripled from $48 per MWh in November 2025 to $152 per MWh in January 2026, driven by coal plant outages and rising gas costs. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) approved retail price increases of up to 9.7% for households and 8.5% for small businesses in NSW for 2025-26, with network charges for 2026-27 also increasing across ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, and TAS, further impacting consumer bills.
Australia's energy transition is accelerating, with renewables supplying a record 47% of the National Electricity Market (NEM) generation in Q1 2026. The federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) is targeting 6 GW of new renewable generation across the NEM, including 2.2 GW in NSW and 1.4 GW in Victoria. Major transmission projects like Marinus Link (connecting Tasmania and Victoria) are expected to begin construction for Stage 1 in 2026, and HumeLink in NSW is seeing main construction progress, with its Northern Circuit anticipated for completion by July 2026.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is actively managing grid reliability amidst the transition, as evidenced by the extension of NSW's Eraring Power Station operations until April 2029 to support energy supply. AEMO's Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) outlines a strategic roadmap for transmission investment, identifying 44 Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) candidates across the NEM to integrate new generation. Furthermore, large-scale battery storage projects like the Waratah Super Battery in NSW are now operating at 700MW, with its full 850MW capacity expected online by late 2026, playing a crucial role in system security and price setting.
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Read guide →Prime Minister Albanese announces new legal obligation for large data centres to become net-generators of renewable energy, protecting Australian power bills from surging grid demand and connection costs from July 2026.
Australia's new framework mandates large data centres to underwrite their own renewable power and pay grid connection costs, shielding household electricity bills from surging demand, effective July 2026.
NSW's $1.8 billion Stratford project, approved this week, transforms a former coal mine into a 620MW pumped hydro and solar hub, powering 120,000 homes.
Australia's energy market rule-maker moves to slash rooftop solar curtailment, proposing a new 20-year distribution network plan to improve grid efficiency from July 2026.
AEMO's 2026 Integrated System Plan outlines the need for 6,000 kilometres of new transmission lines by 2050 to support Australia's renewable energy transition and grid stability.
Victoria's new 300-tonne synchronous condenser at Ararat is now live, immediately unlocking 600 MW of new wind and solar capacity in western Victoria and boosting grid stability from July 2026.
AEMO's 2026 Integrated System Plan details a $106 billion grid transformation, forecasting 120GW of renewables and significant data centre demand by 2050, impacting future power bills.
Transgrid's 900km EnergyConnect project, linking NSW, SA, and Victoria, is now energised, bringing 800MW of transfer capacity to the NEM. Learn how this critical infrastructure bolsters grid stability and integrates renewable energy.
From July 1, Tasmania's Basslink interconnector is fully AEMO controlled. This regulatory shift impacts grid stability, electricity flows, and Marinus Link's future in 2026.
AEMO's 2026 Integrated System Plan reveals how accelerating battery investment will cut $30 billion from transmission costs by 2050, reshaping Australia's grid.
Australia's grid overhaul is shifting focus as AEMO's 2026 Integrated System Plan slashes 1,435km of planned transmission, driven by booming battery storage and surging data centre demand by 2050.
AEMO's 2026 Integrated System Plan details a $106 billion investment by 2050, crucial for meeting Australia's doubling electricity demand and stabilising future power bills.
Australia's largest interconnector, EnergyConnect, is now fully energised across NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, promising AUD$964 million in net benefits and bolstering grid stability.
Australia's largest transmission project, EnergyConnect, is now fully energised, linking NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. Discover how this $3.6 billion infrastructure, despite a $1.5 billion cost blowout, will boost renewable energy flow and impact your future electricity bills.
The NSW Government is investing $225 million into South West REZ grid upgrades, set to lower electricity bills and power 1.6 million homes by 2026.
Transgrid completes NSW's $3.8 billion Project EnergyConnect, Australia's largest transmission line. Understand the impact on your 2027 electricity bills and grid stability.
Akaysha Energy's 415 MW / 1,660 MWh Orana Battery Energy Storage System has reached full operational output in NSW, enhancing grid stability and renewable integration in the National Electricity Market.
Transgrid launches early planning for the $3.2 billion Sydney Ring South project, aiming to relieve grid bottlenecks and deliver up to $51 annual savings for NSW households.
South Australia commits $2.2 billion to new battery storage. Contracts for 1,334 MW / 5,336 MWh will double grid capacity by 2028, boosting reliability for SA households.
Australia's grid is set for a major overhaul as the federal government commits $17 billion to 19 new renewable energy projects, with a new tender opening May 25, 2026.
New South Wales kicks off its largest ever renewable energy tender for 2.5 GW generation and 12 GWh storage, aiming to power 1.26 million homes and stabilise grid prices by late 2026.
New South Wales opens its largest-ever tenders seeking 2.5 GW of renewable generation and 12.5 GWh of long-duration energy storage to secure future power supply.
Australia's energy grid is set for a major upgrade with nearly AUD$950 million invested in two massive solar and battery hybrid projects, adding 720MW solar and 2.4GWh storage capacity.
New South Wales has launched its largest renewable energy tenders, seeking 2.5 GW of generation and 12 GWh of storage by 2034 to stabilise the grid and lower power bills. Discover the details of Tenders 8 and 9.
NSW has fast-tracked 2.1 GWh of battery and Virtual Power Plant firming capacity, securing your electricity supply for summer 2027-28 and beyond in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.
Transgrid has sought an additional $350 million for Project EnergyConnect from the AER in May 2026. This cost increase could impact electricity bills across NSW and SA.
Massive 124-tonne transformers have reached HumeLink substations in NSW, marking a key milestone for the 365km transmission project set to enhance grid stability and deliver cleaner energy by 2028.
Tasmania's electricity grid is set for a major overhaul with a $1.2 billion investment from the CEFC, targeting $315 million in consumer benefits by 2031 through enhanced transmission and renewable energy integration.
Tasmanian electricity bills set to fall. A $1.2B CEFC investment in TasNetworks' North West Transmission Developments targets a 55% cut in network charges, delivering $315M in savings over five years, boosting grid stability and Project Marinus.
Fortescue's chairman Andrew Forrest revealed AI-powered battery systems are stabilising its Pilbara mining grid in nanoseconds, a major leap for Australian grid resilience in 2026.
NSW introduces a new law to accelerate approvals for major renewable energy and grid projects. Discover what this means for electricity supply and the transition from coal.
Western Australia has approved 1.9 GW of new renewables and 3.7 GWh of battery storage, backed by over AUD$5 billion, accelerating its 2030 clean energy target.
New South Wales opens new gas exploration areas for the first time in over a decade from May 2026, a move impacting future energy bills and grid stability as the state transitions to renewables.
Federal government greenlights 10 new wind, solar, and battery projects in Western Australia under the Capacity Investment Scheme, adding 1.886 GW and 3.683 GWh to the grid in 2026.
The Australian Energy Regulator has approved new network charges for 2026-27, impacting electricity bills across most states. Discover how these changes, driven by transmission costs and inflation, will affect your household and business energy costs.
Australia's energy grid is undergoing unprecedented change. AEMO's Q1 2026 report reveals record renewable generation, battery contributions, and shifting wholesale prices.
Transgrid's HumeLink project has secured critical final planning approval in NSW, accelerating the integration of renewables and bolstering grid stability. Learn what this milestone means for Australia's energy transition and future electricity costs.
New estimates place Snowy 2.0's total cost at AUD$42 billion, triggering calls for a Royal Commission into Australia's largest energy project.
AEMO's latest Q1 2026 Connections Scorecard reveals a 62% surge in Australia's battery storage pipeline to 33.2GW, with 74% featuring grid-forming inverters.
AEMO's Q1 2026 Connections Scorecard reveals a 33% surge in renewable energy and battery projects, stressing Australia's grid and transmission needs.
AEMO's recent directive to an SA power station highlights growing grid stability challenges as South Australia targets 100% renewables by 2027. Daily Energy News investigates the implications for 2026.
AEMO issued a rare direction to an SA generator on April 17, 2026, to maintain voltage control, highlighting grid stability challenges amid the state's rapid renewable energy transition.
Western Australia's Benchmark Reserve Capacity Price for 2028-29 has surged 35% to AUD 488,500/MW/year, driven by a shift to longer-duration battery storage.
Construction work on the Marinus Link interconnector has begun in Gippsland. Discover what this means for grid stability and energy prices in 2026.
A major milestone has been reached in Australia's energy transition, with the first transmission tower for the Central-West Orana REZ erected in NSW.