Nerang’s Underground Network Upgrade Begins

Nov. 19, 2012
Energex has begun work on a $2.1 million upgrade to the electricity network in Nerang, in Southeast Queensland, Australia, designed to ensure ongoing reliability of power supply to the area into the future.

Energex has begun work on a $2.1 million upgrade to the electricity network in Nerang, in Southeast Queensland, Australia, designed to ensure ongoing reliability of power supply to the area into the future. The project involves the construction of new underground power cables and upgrade to sections of existing overhead powerlines.

The new underground power cables will be constructed from Energex’s Nerang Substation on Cayuga Street, along McLeod Street and will meet the overhead network on Alexander Drive. The overhead powerline upgrade will also occur on Alexander Drive. This upgrade will reinforce power supplies to homes and businesses in the area south of the substation.

Energex Asset Manager Derek McIntyre said that once complete in early 2013 the overall project would enhance the electricity supplies for more than 2,000 homes and businesses in Nerang and surrounding suburbs.

McIntyre said all effort would be made to minimize the impacts of the cable and powerline works for local homes and businesses, motorists and pedestrians. He said the substation redevelopment and associated local network upgrades were designed to ensure the substation meets the energy demands of the growing population.

“Energy use – especially at peak times – in the area has been rising at levels well above national averages for many years and this is forecast to continue.

“Much of this will be due to the continuing rise in domestic air-conditioning penetration which now stands at close to 75 percent in the area. Across the Nerang Substation supply area there are around 20,000 air-conditioning systems installed in local homes and this is tipped to rise by a further 5,000 in the next five years.”

Energex’s forecasts show peak demand use in the area is set rise by around 10 percent in the next five years.

McIntyre thanked the local community for their patience during the upgrades.

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