Security of supply important for South Island

Security of supply important for South Island

Transpower agrees with recent reports that security of supply in the South Island is essential and recognises that supply to the upper South Island region could become constrained by 2010-2012.

Chief executive Dr Ralph Craven says that Transpower is fully aware of the future transmission issues facing the South Island and has been working on the solutions to ensure security of supply for some time. This work is ongoing and involves interested parties in the South Island.

“The transmission options in the South Island generally involve an interim solution within the next two to three years, followed by a new line at a later date.”

“Transpower undertook a Request For Information (RFI) process in 2005/2006, requesting information from interested parties on alternatives for meeting supply security past 2010-2012. From that process, we are investigating the possibility of working with our customers on demand-side management measures which would help to eliminate constraints on the transmission system.”

“We will continue to work with those respondents to the RFI in ensuring the best solutions are implemented in the South Island.”

“A possible interim solution to be in place by 2010-2012 is bussing of the existing 220kV transmission lines, from Waitaki to Christchurch, at Geraldine which will effectively reduce the impact of a possible outage of a line.”

“However this will only be an interim fix and it is possible that a major transmission investment – a new line – will be needed between Waitaki and Christchurch by 2014-2018. Proposals required for these works are being developed for submission to the Electricity Commission.”

Transpower’s Annual Planning Report, which sets out security of supply issues and potential or planned projects for implementation over the next ten years, has been circulated to our customers for comment and will be publicly released at the end of March 2007.

ENDS

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