Major Upgrade of Frankton Zone Substation Planned

20 May 2010

Aurora is investing almost $5 million in a much larger Frankton substation, to be completed by June next year, to cater for a significant demand for electricity.

Aurora chief executive Grady Cameron said growth at the Frankton substation had increased from 7.8 MVA (megavolt-amps) in 2003 to 13.9 MVA last year. This demand equated to well in excess of a thousand new households, excluding the significant growth in commercial customers.

The work would provide an additional 50 per cent capacity at the Frankton Substation.

Mr Cameron said the new substation would be built behind the existing one and he hoped construction could begin in October this year.

"This is a continuation of the significant investment that Aurora has made to meet the increasing electricity demand in the Central Otago and Lakes District areas, including the new $6 million Commonage Substation and the $5 million improvements to the Wanaka supply network from 2001 to 2005."

"This is a total rebuild of a new substation on the existing site, including a new building to house the new switchgear and a new 12/24 MVA transformer to replace the existing 7.5/10 MVA unit. The existing 15 MVA unit would remain."

 

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