Projects

Waipara - Kaikoura 66kV Re-Insulation Project

In July 2005, MainPower commenced a project to re-insulate the existing 33kV line between Waipara and Kaikoura to 66kV.  This key capital project has been broken down into two major stages, with Stage 1 covering from Waipara to Cheviot and stage 2 covering from Cheviot to Kaikoura. This project will be completed with over 475 steel extensions being erected and 130 poles changed to allow the new 66kV insulators to be installed.

Stage 1 of the 66kVA line project and installation of sub stations was completed early November 2007. The livening of the three new skid substations located at Mackenzie Road, Greta Valley and Cheviot were undertaken over a 6 day commissioning period, requiring the utilisation of the 1,250kVa generator to 80 extensions (budget 316), 40 strain poles (budget 178) and 90 in line poles (budget 331) ensure the surrounding districts were not affected by the shutdown of the sub stations.

Stage 2 of the project began during 2007 with the 66kV line construction project (Cheviot to Kaikoura) 25% complete at the end of 2007, with 209 of the 836 structures changed. The line construction should be completed in 2008. MainPower has established a dedicated project team and purchased specialised equipment to undertake the project. The upgraded line will ensure MainPower has a security of supply to Kaikoura without relying on the existing line via Transpower's circuit.

Conversion Project

MainPower are currently upgrading the power supply to the northern part of the Kaiapoi township, to meet growing demand in the area.  Stage 1 of the project has been completed, involving the laying of over 1km of dual-circuit cables from the Island Rd substation to Adderley Terrace.  It is expected that the cable-laying work will be completed by September, after which the cables will be livened to spread load in the northern part of Kaiapoi and increase the capacity and security of supply to customers in the area.  This is a significant project for MainPower, and involves some difficult work installing cables underneath riverbeds and rail crossings.  We appreciate that this work has had some impact on local residents as trenching has taken place, and we would like to thank residents of Audley Street, Sneyd Street and Adderley Terrace for their co-operation to date.

Pegasus Township Power Reticulation

MainPower has been engaged by Infinity Group to provide power reticulation to the new Pegasus Township. The project will span approximately 3-4 years and will see the power reticulation being installed for the new township. The project commenced in June 2007 with a dedicated project team being established to provide the installation of the underground cabling and installation of the streetlight network. MainPower has developed a solid working relationship with Heb March, the projects civil contractor, which has seen the completion of the Mapleham entrance way and Stage 1 of the township completed in November 2007 although delayed somewhat on the original project time frames.

Kaiapoi North

MainPower are currently upgrading the power supply to the northern part of the Kaiapoi township, to meet growing demand in the area.  Stage 1 of the project has been completed, involving the laying of over 1km of dual-circuit cables from the Island Rd substation to Adderley Terrace.  It is expected that the cable-laying work will be completed by September, after which the cables will be livened to spread load in the northern part of Kaiapoi and increase the capacity and security of supply to customers in the area.  This is a significant project for MainPower, and involves some difficult work installing cables underneath riverbeds and rail crossings.  We appreciate that this work has had some impact on local residents as trenching has taken place, and we would like to thank residents of Audley Street, Sneyd Street and Adderley Terrace for their co-operation to date.

Other key projects being undertaken by MainPower

• Construction of a new GXP at Rangiora East in 2011 and upgrading the Ashley GXP in 2012 will provide additional capacity to meet demand in the Rangiora Town
• Completion of the 66kV upgrade of the Waipara-Kaikoura sub-transmission circuit in 2010, and the construction of a double circuit 33kV line between Cust and Oxford around 2013 will maintain security of supply standards. The upgrade of sub-transmission to 66kV in Swannanoa, Cust, Oxford and the Bennetts area later in the forecast period will help meet the projected demand
• Completion of the upgrade of the Amberley zone substation will happen in 2011
• Aquisition of land at Bennetts for future zone substation expansion is also programmed for 2012
• Distribution development is driven by the need for additional capacity and security across the region and includes network reinforcement in a number of areas. Significant projects include a new Oaro 22kV line in the Kaikoura area by 2011, a new 11kV feeder from the Oxford substation in 2010, upgrade of distribution systems in Kaiapoi in 2011, a third feeder at Hanmer and new dual circuit 11kV feeders in Rangiora East in 2013 and a new switching station at Dale Street to provide improved security of supply at Kaiapoi in 2014.
• On an ongoing basis MainPower converts overhead lines to underground reticulation throughout the region where high social dividends are achieved
• Refurbishment of the Percival Street substation in central Rangiora which was originally built in 1932. New switchgear and SCADA systems will be installed and building improvements undertaken.
• MainPower's Rangiora Control Centre is to have installed a state of the art SCADA master station to replace the current 15 year old station.