sec.25Minister must seek advice about Powerlink’s report

sec.25 Minister must seek advice about Powerlink’s report

If the Minister receives a report from Powerlink under section 24 (2) (b) about a candidate priority transmission investment, the Minister must seek advice on the report from a suitably qualified person. The advice the Minister must seek is— whether Powerlink has assessed the candidate priority transmission investment in accordance with the direction given about the investment under section 24 ; and whether the expenditure on the investment proposed, or already made, by Powerlink is the expenditure that would be required by an efficient and prudent operator in Powerlink’s circumstances. The Minister may also seek advice from a suitably qualified person about any other matter relevant to whether a declaration should be made for the candidate priority transmission investment under section 26 . A request for advice under subsection (2) or (3) must state the date by which the advice must be given to the Minister. If the Minister seeks advice from a suitably qualified person under this section, the suitably qualified person may ask Powerlink for any information the person reasonably requires to give their advice. Powerlink must, within a reasonable time, give the requested information to the suitably qualified person. If, following receipt of the advice, the Minister considers Powerlink has not assessed the candidate priority transmission investment as directed, the Minister may direct Powerlink to provide a replacement report under section 24 (2) (b) that addresses the matters stated in the direction. Subsections (1) to (7) apply in relation to the replacement report the subject of the direction under subsection (7) as if the replacement report were a report received under section 24 (2) (b) . s 25 amd 2025 No. 30 s 21 (sec.25-ssec.1) If the Minister receives a report from Powerlink under section 24 (2) (b) about a candidate priority transmission investment, the Minister must seek advice on the report from a suitably qualified person. (sec.25-ssec.2) The advice the Minister must seek is— whether Powerlink has assessed the candidate priority transmission investment in accordance with the direction given about the investment under section 24 ; and whether the expenditure on the investment proposed, or already made, by Powerlink is the expenditure that would be required by an efficient and prudent operator in Powerlink’s circumstances. (sec.25-ssec.3) The Minister may also seek advice from a suitably qualified person about any other matter relevant to whether a declaration should be made for the candidate priority transmission investment under section 26 . (sec.25-ssec.4) A request for advice under subsection (2) or (3) must state the date by which the advice must be given to the Minister. (sec.25-ssec.5) If the Minister seeks advice from a suitably qualified person under this section, the suitably qualified person may ask Powerlink for any information the person reasonably requires to give their advice. (sec.25-ssec.6) Powerlink must, within a reasonable time, give the requested information to the suitably qualified person. (sec.25-ssec.7) If, following receipt of the advice, the Minister considers Powerlink has not assessed the candidate priority transmission investment as directed, the Minister may direct Powerlink to provide a replacement report under section 24 (2) (b) that addresses the matters stated in the direction. (sec.25-ssec.8) Subsections (1) to (7) apply in relation to the replacement report the subject of the direction under subsection (7) as if the replacement report were a report received under section 24 (2) (b) .