Security of supply to Auckland and Northland

1 October 2007

Transpower concerned over security of supply to Auckland and Northland

Transpower is concerned that the electricity supply to Auckland and Northland could be jeopardised following two appeals to the Environment Court on Auckland City Council’s decision to approve Transpower’s resource consent to uprate the Henderson – Otahuhu transmission line during forced outages.

The Henderson to Otahuhu line supplies West Auckland, the North Shore and Northland and is the only transmission line that connects North Auckland and Northland with areas further south. Transpower applied for resource consent to operate the line from 750 MVA per circuit to 986 MVA during forced outages and this was approved by the Auckland City Council last month.

Transpower General Manager National Grid David Laurie said that Transpower would apply under the Resource Management Act to the Environment Court, seeking that the line could be operated at the new rating of 986 MVA during forced outages while the two appeals are being heard.

“Transpower needs to operate the line at higher than 750 MVA per circuit during forced outages in order to meet the increasing electricity demand in Auckland and Northland, until the new cross harbour cable is operating around 2013. Demand for electricity in these areas continues to increase – by around 30 MW per year – and there is a real risk that if a forced outage was to occur, with the 750 MVA per circuit restriction in place, we would not be able to supply enough electricity to meet demand.”

“We understand and respect the appeal process and will now work our way through the Environment Court proceedings and provide any information needed. However in the interim, it is critical that should a forced outage occur on the Henderson – Otahuhu line before the appeal hearings are completed, the demand for electricity in the Auckland and Northland areas will still be able to be met.”

“Transpower strongly believes that the Auckland City Council decision to approve the resource consent application was correct, and it is in the best interest of the country that electricity supply to North Auckland and Northland is reliable and secure. “

The Henderson – Otahuhu upgrade project is part of a larger ‘suite’ of enhancements to the National Grid in the Auckland region to ensure reliability and diversity of electricity supply into Auckland and Northland.

Approval from the Electricity Commission was recently received for the Otahuhu substation upgrade; an investment proposal to reinforce the electricity supply to North Auckland and Northland was submitted recently to the Electricity Commission for approval; and a new transmission line from Whakamaru to South Auckland is now going through the Resource Management Act process.

David Laurie said that all of these projects were essential for New Zealand and would ensure a reliable and diverse supply of electricity to meet the growing demand of the Auckland and Northland areas well into the future.

ENDS

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