Substation upgrades
Substation upgrades are a fundamental part of ensuring that our power supply remains dependable and cost-effective. With the rise in renewable energy sources, it's essential that our power grid is equipped to support the increased demand.
Why we’re upgrading
- The demand for electricity is growing due to population increases and new technological developments. Upgrades are necessary to accommodate this increased demand.
- Upgrades enhance the reliability and stability of the power grid, helping to prevent outages and ensure a consistent supply of electricity.
- Modernisation and efficiency are improved through equipment upgrades, which enhance the overall performance of the power grid.
- The capacity of the network to handle new renewable energy sources and technologies is increased through these upgrades.
The process of upgrading a substation can take several forms. It may involve increasing the capacity of existing substations to handle more power, known as capacity upgrades. Alternatively, new substations may need to be constructed in high-demand areas or to diversify the power supply.
Equipment upgrades also play a significant role, with old equipment being replaced with newer, more efficient models.
In areas anticipating significant future development, temporary mobile electricity stations are sometimes established. 
Important considerations during the outage
- If you’re a customer who relies on essential medical equipment, please activate your back-up plan immediately. If you are not currently registered for life support and require power for the use of vital medical devices, please call 131 003 to commence the registration process
- Once power supply is lost, automatic garage doors will not open. It is always good to know how to manually open, close and safely secure your garage door in case of a loss of power
- Some of the trucks used to repair electricity infrastructure are large, and we may be forced to park across driveways to enable safe access to complete the work required. Talk to our crew when they arrive on site if you need access to your vehicle. They will work with you to find a suitable time
- In rural areas loss of power often results in loss of water. If you require power for water pumps at your property, please consider alternate power generation (i.e. petrol generators) or alternate water supplies, for the duration of the outage
- Should there be bad weather, the job may be rescheduled to another date. We know this can be frustrating when customers have made alternative arrangements, however our crew is unable to work on live wires during heavy rain or very strong winds
What to expect when our teams are on site
New substation installations
The process begins with site preparation and construction work, which may involve site clearing, civil works, as well as trenching and the installation of conduits. Transformer bunds, concrete and footings may also be prepared on the site. Some poles may be replaced, and in certain sections, overhead wires will be placed underground. This will involve excavation work to enable access and installation.
For large upgrades and new installations, the construction process is lengthy although power outages (if required) will be minimal. Where power outages are required, affected customers will be notified in advance, via SMS or in writing.
Road users may experience occasional disruptions due to the work. Traffic control measures will be enforced as necessary, and any affected residents will receive advanced notice of construction activities near their property. Measures will be put in place to limit disruption as much as possible.
Existing substation upgrades
Smaller substation maintenance and upgrades are more common and typically take one day to complete. A planned outage is necessary for the safe installation of new equipment.
During this work, you will see our teams, trucks and equipment. There will be some noise and dust, however, we’ll make every effort to keep this to a minimum.
Some equipment may be stored on footpaths and nature strips ahead of installation, and when our team is working, access to street parking and footpaths may be restricted. We’ll maintain access to driveways wherever possible, unless otherwise arranged with the occupants.
In some instances, traffic control may be needed to maintain safety. When work is directly in front of your property, please be mindful of where you place bins for collection, to avoid disruption to your garbage service.
