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Upper South Island Grid Upgrade

Overview

What we're doing

Between 2005 and 2008, we investigated and reported on the adequacy of our transmission network supplying the upper South Island (ie north of the Waitaki Valley). While our investigation found that investment would not be required until 2017, we committed to continue monitoring the situation given the sensitivity of our results to changing assumptions (like demand growth and the serviceability of the synchronous condensers at Islington).

We are now reopening the investigation due to:

• increasing irrigation and changing land uses
• confirmation that it is not economic to refurbish the synchronous condensers at Islington
• changing peak load period and associated implications for diversity and maintainability
• greater emphasis on planning for High Impact, Low Probability events
• the need to provide options for a long term upgrade path.

This is a provisional investment project and if an investment is required, Transpower anticipates seeking approval from our regulator for the first stage of the project in early 2012.

Why we're doing it

Transpower anticipates that this project will resolve the issue of capacity for the South Island grid backbone north of the Waitaki Valley for the foreseeable future.

• Project Reference:
  UPSI-TRAN-DEV-01
• Region:
  Backbone
• Status:
  Under Consultation
• Cost Bracket:
  F "$100 - $300 million"
• Timing:
  2030