Humelink budget trimmed but cost worries persist

NSW households will pay almost $100 million less over three years to cover the bulk of the cost of the controversial Humelink transmission project after the Australian Energy Regulator disallowed some costs proposed by developer Transgrid.

The AER allowed a budget of $3.965 billion for the construction of the second stage of the 500 kilovolt line, which will be needed to connect the Snowy 2.0 project – less than the $4.279 billion originally proposed by the owner of the NSW high-voltage power grid.