HALT’s transmission line claims incorrect

Media statement
24 April 2007

HALT’s transmission line claims incorrect

A claim being made by the Home-owners Against Line Trespassers (HALT) group, that Transpower’s amended North Island Grid Upgrade proposal includes building two lines from Whakamaru to South Auckland, is incorrect.

Transpower’s proposal is to build a 400kV line from Whakamaru to South Auckland, which will operate initially at 220kV and only be upgraded to 400kV when needed.

The abstract that HALT is referring to in their media statements, was an option suggested by the Electricity Commission as a possible alternative to building the 400kV transmission line. The Commission then issued a Notice of Intention to approve Transpower’s proposal, which does not include a second line.

The details of Transpower’s proposal are:

- The overhead transmission line will still be 400 kV capable, but will initially operate at 220kV.

- It will only move to 400kV when it is economic to do so - this allows expenditure on expensive substation equipment to be deferred.

- A transition station will be built at Brownhill Road and a 220kV underground cable run to the Pakuranga substation.

- At a future date a second 220kV underground cable can be run from Brownhill Road to Otahuhu substation.

- A 400kV capable line makes maximum use of a greenfields route.

- Triplex conductor is being used to maximise the value of the route.

- The commissioning target is 2011.

ENDS

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