Lexi Webster
Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia that owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. The company is owned by the Government of Australia and operates under the Snowy Water Licence, which allows it to collect, store, and release water from the Snowy Scheme. The Snowy Scheme, also known as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in southeast Australia, consisting of 16 major dams, 9 power stations, and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines, and aqueducts. It is the largest engineering project ever undertaken in Australia and plays a crucial role in the country's energy and water management.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of company | Electricity generation and retailing company |
| Ownership | Owned by the Government of Australia |
| Year established | 1949 |
| Number of power stations | 16 |
| Total generation | 5,500MW |
| Number of customers | 1.1 million |
| Renewable energy to the National Electricity Market | One-third |
| Location of power stations | New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia |
| Number of dams | 16 |
| Length of tunnels | 145 kilometres |
| Length of aqueducts | 80 kilometres |
| Location | Kosciuszko National Park |
| Area managed by Snowy Hydro | 6,400 hectares of the park and around 24,000 hectares of freehold land |
| Year of acquisition of Colongra Power Station | 2015 |
| Power generated by Colongra Power Station | 667 MW |
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What You'll Learn
Snowy Hydro's ownership
Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia. It owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, which includes 16 large dams, 9 hydro-electric power stations, and 145 kilometres of tunnels. Snowy Hydro also owns and operates gas-fired and diesel power stations across Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.
The company is owned by the Government of Australia and operates under the Snowy Water Licence, granted as part of the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act of 1997. The licence allows Snowy Hydro to collect, store, and divert water from the Snowy Mountains catchment for irrigation and electricity generation.
Historically, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme was established by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act of 1949. This Act enabled the formation of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority, which was responsible for the evaluation, design, and construction of the Snowy Scheme. The Scheme was completed in 1974 and is considered a significant engineering project and a testament to Australian innovation.
In 2005, the Government of New South Wales announced its intention to sell its 58% share in Snowy Hydro, but the sale was aborted in 2006 due to strong public opposition. As of 2025, Snowy Hydro remains a wholly-owned government company, represented by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The company continues to play a crucial role in Australia's energy market and the transition to renewable energy sources.
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The Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Scheme consists of 16 major dams, nine power stations, two pumping stations, and 225 kilometres (140 mi) of tunnels, pipelines, and aqueducts. It also includes two major tunnel systems constructed through the continental divide of the Snowy Mountains, known as the Great Dividing Range in Australia. The Scheme is located mainly in the Kosciusko National Park and was constructed between 1949 and 1974.
The idea for the Snowy Mountains Scheme was first proposed in 1944 as a way to use the area's water for power and irrigation. The Commonwealth and States Snowy River Committee was formed to negotiate water usage between the states, as the rivers in the Snowy Mountains region run through multiple states. In 1948, a committee suggested a plan to divert the waters of the Snowy Mountains region to provide increased electricity generating capacity and irrigation water for the dry west. This plan was greeted with enthusiasm by Australians, who saw it as a milestone towards full national development.
Today, the Snowy Scheme is the largest renewable energy generator in mainland Australia, generating approximately 67% of all renewable energy in the mainland National Electricity Market. It plays a crucial role in providing water security to the Murray-Darling Basin, supplying approximately 2,100 gigalitres of water annually for irrigated agriculture, contributing to over 40% of the nation's agricultural production.
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Energy generation and distribution
Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia. It owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, which was completed in 1974 and is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia.
The Snowy Mountains Scheme consists of 16 large dams, nine hydro-electric power stations, two pumping stations, and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines, and aqueducts. The Scheme is located near the border of New South Wales and Victoria and is mainly situated in the Kosciusko National Park.
Snowy Hydro has been generating on-demand, reliable energy for almost 70 years and currently has 16 power stations with a total generation capacity of 5,500 MW, serving 1.1 million customers. The company also owns and operates gas-fired and diesel-powered peaking power stations in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, providing a total capacity of 1,423 MW.
The Snowy Mountains Scheme is the largest renewable energy generator in mainland Australia, producing around 4,500 gigawatt hours of clean, renewable energy annually. In 2010, this accounted for around 37% of all renewable energy in the mainland National Electricity Market, and by 2018, Snowy Hydro was providing 32% of all renewable energy available to Australia's east coast mainland grid. The Scheme is responsible for generating approximately 67% of all renewable energy in the mainland market and plays a crucial role in its operation.
Snowy Hydro's production assets are used to generate electricity for sale to the National Electricity Market. The company also has a significant role in water management, collecting, storing, and diverting water for irrigation from the Snowy Mountains catchment to the Murray and Murrumbidgee River systems under the Snowy Water Licence.
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The Snowy Water Licence
The Snowy Hydro Limited is owned by the Government of Australia and was established by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act 1949. The company generates and retails electricity, owning and operating several gas and diesel power stations across Australia in addition to the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Snowy Hydro also owns two electricity retailing businesses, Red Energy and Lumo Energy.
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The future of Snowy Hydro
Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia. It owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, which is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia. The Snowy Hydro Scheme consists of sixteen large dams, nine hydro-electric power stations, two pumping stations, and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines, and aqueducts. The company also owns and operates gas-fired and diesel power stations in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.
Snowy Hydro has been developing its gas-fired power station portfolio to reduce the risks associated with its reliance on water as an energy source and the potential impact of transmission constraints on accessing the electricity grid. The company has also invested in modernising the Snowy Scheme, cloud seeding, developing mini hydro opportunities, and growing its retailing business, Red Energy, which currently has 1.6 million customers.
The Snowy Hydro Scheme plays a crucial role in the National Electricity Market, generating approximately 67% of all renewable energy. It also has a significant role in providing security of water flows to the Murray-Darling Basin, supplying approximately 2,100 gigalitres of water per year for agricultural irrigation. The Scheme is the largest renewable energy generator in mainland Australia and is listed as one of the most complex integrated water and hydro-electric power schemes in the world.
In conclusion, the future of Snowy Hydro is focused on renewable energy projects, modernising the Snowy Scheme, and meeting the country's energy and water management needs. Snowy 2.0 is a significant development that will provide on-demand energy and storage while also creating job opportunities. Snowy Hydro's role in the National Electricity Market and water management will continue to be essential for Australia's energy transition and agricultural industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Snowy Hydro Limited is owned by the Government of Australia.
Snowy Hydro is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia. It owns and manages the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, which consists of 16 large dams, 9 power stations, and 145 kilometres of tunnels.
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, also known as the Snowy Scheme, is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. It is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia and plays an important role in the National Electricity Market, generating approximately 67% of all renewable energy.
