TransGrid Publishes Final Report: Supply to the Mid North Coast

The section of the NSW Mid North Coast between Taree and Nambucca presently has a population of around 200,000. The population and with it the demand for electricity in the Mid North Coast has grown at above the State average for many years and this above average growth rate is expected to continue.

TransGrid and Country Energy are proposing the construction of a new large transmission network asset and a new large distribution network asset to increase the capacity of the networks supplying the area. In accordance with clauses 5.6.6(h) and 5.6.2(h) of the National Electricity Rules a final report has been prepared that applies the AER's regulatory test to a range of reasonable options to meet this requirement.

The proposed actions are that TransGrid and Country Energy jointly will augment the transmission and distribution networks in the area to enable a circuit of the existing 132 kV line between Coffs Harbour and Kempsey, which presently operates at 66 kV, to operate at 132 kV. These works will inter-alia involve the construction of three new 132 kV substations at West Sawtell, Raleigh and Macksville and the augmentation of transformer capacity at TransGrid's Nambucca 132/66 kV substation. These works are estimated to cost $ 62 Million and they are planned to be completed by mid 2009.

A copy of the final report can be downloaded from the Current Consultations page.