TransGrid Publishes Application Notice: Supply to the Mid North Coast

2 May 2007

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 clause 5.6.6(c) and 5.6.2(f) of the National Electricity Rules an application notice has been prepared that applies the AER?s regulatory test to a range of reasonable options to meet this requirement.

The preferred actions are that TransGrid and Country Energy jointly 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 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 could be completed by mid 2009.

TransGrid and Country Energy invite submissions on the application notice from interested parties. The closing date for submissions is 14th June 2007.

A copy of the application notice can be downloaded from the Current Consultations page