Australian Energy Regulator’s final decision says consumers are better off with Marinus Link

February 9, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has confirmed that consumers will be better off with investment in the Marinus Link interconnector in its final decision on the project’s construction cost.

The AER is responsible for ensuring energy consumers have access to a reliable and secure market and that they do not pay more than necessary for energy, which is done by setting the maximum amount of revenue that monopoly electricity networks and natural gas pipelines can earn from consumers.

In its final decision on construction costs for Marinus Link’s Stage 1, which ensures that only prudent and efficient costs will be recovered from customers, the regulator confirms the analysis that Tasmanians and Victorians will be better off with investment in the project.

“We thank the AER for recognising our discipline in managing the project’s construction costs on behalf of electricity consumers,” said Marinus Link Pty Ltd CEO Stephanie McGregor.

“Our role now, as a regulated company and the custodians of national energy infrastructure, is to deliver efficiently, responsibly, and ensure the benefits are enduring for all Tasmanians and Victorians. Preparatory works are already underway across our project footprint. This final decision gives us the confidence to take construction into full swing later this year.”

The 345-kilometer Marinus Link project, to be built in two 750 MW stages, will link North West Tasmania and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, with 255 kilometers running undersea across Australia’s Bass Strait.

MLPL, jointly owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (49%), the State of Tasmania (17.7%) and the State of Victoria (33.3%), announced the final investment decision (FID) on August 1, 2025.

The joint venture (JV) of DT Infrastructure and Samsung C&T Corporation has been appointed to deliver the construction of converter stations in Heybridge and Hazelwood, the installation of equipment, and the land cable civil works for the interconnector.

The notices to proceed were issued to the cable and converter technology suppliers, Prysmian Powerlink and Hitachi Energy, in September 2025.