The largest electricity network in Australia is the National Electricity Market (NEM), handling more than 80% of production and consumption.
This runs down the east and southeast coast of Australia, covering coastal Queensland, NSW, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
The NEM enables interstate trade in electricity.
It uses high voltage interconnectors to link the transmission networks in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
The AEMC outlines ‘the classic supply-chain model of electricity’ as:
- Generators make electricity from these primary sources which then flows into the transmission network
- The transmission network then transports electricity to the distribution network
- The distribution network then transports electricity to residential and commercial buildings
- End users use the energy.
States and territories import or export electricity, depending on supply and demand.
Tasmania and South Australia import more than other states.