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Networks explained

Who Owns Australia's Electricity Poles and Wires in 2026?

Some networks are owned by state governments, some by private investors and some by both. Here is who owns each one, and whether it matters for your bill.

Checked against regulator sources, October 2026

Who owns each network

Ownership of Australia's electricity distribution networks
NetworkTypeOwner
AusgridNSWPart privately ownedA 50.4% interest is held under a 99-year lease by a consortium of IFM Investors, APG Asset Management and AustralianSuper. The NSW Government keeps the other 49.6%.
Endeavour EnergyNSWPart privately ownedA 50.4% interest is held under a 99-year lease by a consortium including Macquarie Asset Management, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and the Qatar Investment Authority. The NSW Government keeps the other 49.6%.
Essential EnergyNSWGovernment ownedOwned by the NSW Government.
EnergexQLDGovernment ownedPart of Energy Queensland, which is owned by the Queensland Government.
Ergon Energy NetworkQLDGovernment ownedPart of Energy Queensland, which is owned by the Queensland Government.
SA Power NetworksSAPrivately ownedPrivately owned.
CitiPowerVICPrivately ownedPart of Victoria Power Networks, 51% owned by CK Infrastructure Holdings and Power Assets Holdings, and 49% by Spark Infrastructure, which is owned by KKR, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and PSP Investments.
PowercorVICPrivately ownedPart of Victoria Power Networks, 51% owned by CK Infrastructure Holdings and Power Assets Holdings, and 49% by Spark Infrastructure, which is owned by KKR, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and PSP Investments.
United EnergyVICPrivately ownedPrivately owned.
AusNetVICPrivately ownedOwned by a consortium led by Brookfield, which completed its purchase in February 2022. AusNet also owns most of Victoria's transmission network.
JemenaVICPrivately ownedPrivately owned.
EvoenergyACTPrivately ownedThe poles and wires business of ActewAGL Distribution, part of the ActewAGL joint venture.
TasNetworksTASGovernment ownedOwned by the Tasmanian Government. It runs both the transmission and distribution networks in the state.
Western PowerWAGovernment ownedA Western Australian Government owned corporation, legally the Electricity Networks Corporation.
Horizon PowerWAGovernment ownedOwned by the Western Australian Government. It runs the networks and sells the electricity, so it is both network and retailer.
Power and Water CorporationNTGovernment ownedOwned by the Northern Territory Government.
Ownership type from the AER, State of the energy market 2025. Owner details from network websites, October 2026.

How ownership changed

  1. 1990s

    Victoria sells its networks

    The state broke up and sold its electricity industry, including its distribution and transmission networks, to private owners.

  2. 2015

    Transgrid leased

    NSW leased its transmission network to private investors for 99 years.

  3. 2016

    Ausgrid partly leased

    A 50.4% interest in Ausgrid went to a private consortium under a 99-year lease.

  4. 2017

    Endeavour Energy partly leased

    The same model was applied to Endeavour Energy. Essential Energy stayed in government hands.

  5. 2022

    AusNet taken over

    A Brookfield-led consortium completed its purchase of AusNet, which owns most of Victoria's transmission network and one of its distribution networks.

Does ownership affect your bill?

Directly, not much. Every network in the national market has its revenue capped by the AER, whoever owns it. Ownership can affect how efficiently a network is run and how hard it pushes in its proposals, and debates about privatisation often turn on that. Customer service standards, outage rules and compensation payments are set by regulation and apply the same way.

Government-owned does not mean cheaper

Some of the highest network charges in the country belong to government-owned networks, such as Essential Energy in regional NSW, because cost depends far more on geography than on ownership.

Common questions

Partly. Victoria's and South Australia's networks are privately owned, NSW has leased most of its networks, and Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory still own theirs. The ACT network is owned through a joint venture.

A consortium of IFM Investors, APG Asset Management and AustralianSuper holds a 50.4% interest under a 99-year lease. The NSW Government holds the other 49.6%.

Not because of ownership alone. All networks in the national market have their revenue set by the AER. Differences in charges mostly come from geography, customer density and the age of the network.

Sources

Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.