Skip to Main navigationSkip to Content  
 
Transpower LogoGrid New Zealand Title Image
Banner Image

Update: 06 November 2009

Welcome to Transpower’s Grid New Zealand update. This update is designed to provide a weekly summary of activity – consultations, submissions, workshops and key milestones – for projects that have been (or are soon to be) proposed to the Electricity Commission.

Upper North Island Dynamic Power Support Investigation

The initial development plans have been finalised and costs for each development plan are being developed.

Proposals in response to the RFP which closed in October are being assessed. Information from this process will be evaluated and reflected in preparing a Grid Upgrade Plan.

Next milestone: Early 2010 - Preparation of the Grid Upgrade Plan

Lower South Island Facilitating Renewables Project

Submissions are being considered with a view to confirming or amending the preferred options.

Next milestone: November - Submission of an Investment Proposal to the Electricity Commission.

Lower South Island Reliability Project

Some of the options under investigation involve technology untried in New Zealand, requiring further work before a short-list can be finalised.

Next milestone: Publish short list of options.

Lower Waitaki Reliability Investigation Project

The long list has now been culled to a short list however further work is being undertaken to confirm some assumptions to ensure the short-list does represent the most economic options.

Next milestone:  November or December - Publish short-listed options.

Stratford-Wanganui Reconductoring Investigation

We are responding to a number of questions raised by the Commission about the Investment Proposal submitted in September.

Next milestone: Today - Electricity Commission due to issue Notice of Intention to either approve or decline the proposal.

Bay of Plenty Interconnection Capacity Investigation

Investment Proposal submitted (3 November 2009) to the Electricity Commission. They have begun consultation on the proposal.

Next milestone: 24 November - Electricity Commission consultation period closes

Redclyffe Interconnecting Transformer Project

The Electricity Commission has advised they need more time before issuing the notice of intention.

Next milestone: Notice of intention pending from the Electricity Commission.

Bunnythorpe-Haywards thermal upgrade project

The project may be reinitiated pending the findings of the condition assessment reports that are due in early November 2009.

Next milestone: Condition assessment reports due early November

National Auto Synchronisation Points Investigation Project

Transpower is investigating the installation of auto synchronisation points at relevant substations in its network.  Work is progressing to assess the technical feasibility and costs to install auto synchronisation points.

Next milestone: December - Submission of a Grid Upgrade Proposal

Upper South Island Grid Upgrade Investigation Project

Transpower is reviewing its earlier investigation to reinforce the grid in the upper South Island.  The investigation is presently reviewing the underlying assumptions - demand growth, new generation and system security.

Next milestone: November - Review of need with regional power companies

Te Kowhai Over Voltage

A draft long list has been prepared that identifies ways for managing high voltages at the Te Kowhai grid exit point.

Next milestone: November - Discuss project need and draft long list with customers in the Waikato.

Projects in Development

Transpower has a number of other projects in earlier stages of investigation that may or may not proceed to Electricity Commission approval.   The projects currently under investigation include:

  • Lower North Island Transmission to Enable Renewables study
  • Waikato 110 kV line investigation
  • Opunake-Stratford conductor replacement

As and when these projects develop, they will be individually treated within this update.