Orion to take over local Transpower assets

Media statement

1pm, 21 June 2012

Orion to take over local Transpower assets

Electricity network company Orion has reached agreement with Transpower to transfer ownership of the national grid owner's Papanui substation in northwest Christchurch and the associated high voltage (66,000 volt) lines from Islington. This is part of a long-term strategy to improve the efficiency and reliability of Christchurch's electricity supply.

Orion says having the electricity network in the area operated by just one company will result in savings and efficiencies worth at least $5m over the next decade and help keep power bills down in the long term.

"As well as creating savings and efficiencies, it will help to ensure that we can plan flexibly to provide electricity supply to northwest Christchurch as more houses and commercial properties are developed after the Canterbury earthquakes," says Orion chief executive Rob Jamieson.

"The asset transfer is also important because it improves the coordination between Orion and national grid owner Transpower."

The asset transfer is just one of $870m worth of projects planned over the next 10 years to improve and enhance electricity supply in the Orion network area.

Projects to restore the severely damaged network in eastern Christchurch include installing a large high voltage underground cable from Orion's substation in St Albans to the company's Dallington substation. This new cable will provide another option to get power into Dallington and the surrounding suburbs.

Orion is also developing options to replace the temporary high voltage overhead lines built to carry power into north-east Christchurch after all of the large underground cables into that area where damaged beyond repair by the earthquakes.
ENDS
Orion New Zealand Limited owns and operates the electricity network in Christchurch and central Canterbury. Our network covers 8,000km2 between the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers and from the Canterbury coast to Arthur's Pass. We deliver electricity to more than 190,000 homes and businesses across this diverse geographical area.
There are 29 electricity distribution companies in New Zealand. Orion's neighbours are MainPower New Zealand Limited (north of the Waimakariri River), Electricity Ashburton Limited (south of the Rakaia River) and Westpower Limited (west of Arthur's Pass).

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