15 July 2014
Where the technical limits of a distribution system will be exceeded and the rectification options are likely to exceed $10M, Ergon Energy is required under the National Electricity Rules s5.6.2(f) to consult with affected Registered Participants, AEMO and Interested Parties within the time required for corrective action and meet certain requirements, including undertaking analysis that satisfies the AER’s Regulatory Test, in selection of an appropriate solution.
Ergon Energy Corporation Limited (Ergon Energy) is responsible (under its Distribution Authority) for electricity supply to the Gladstone area in Central Queensland. We have identified emerging limitations in the electricity distribution network supplying the South Gladstone area. The loads on Ergon Energy’s zone substation and 11kV network in the South Gladstone area have progressively increased such that augmentation is required if reliable supply is to be maintained.
The load on Gladstone South Zone Substation is already in excess of its N-1 substation capacity and without the additional temporary transformer would already be in excess of N. As such, any transformer contingency may result in customer load shedding.
Ergon Energy published a Request for Information relating to this emerging network constraint on 18 December 2013. Five submissions were received by the closing date of 19 February 2014.
The evaluation process has considered all five external submissions, in conjunction with Ergon Energy’s internally identified distribution network option. Three feasible solutions have been identified:
- Option 1: Installation of two new 20 MVA 66/11kV transformers and a new switchboard at the Gladstone South Zone Substation by 2015
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Option 2: Installation of a single new 20 MVA 66/11kV transformer and a new switchboard at the Gladstone South Zone Substation by 2015
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Option 3: Installation of two new 20 MVA 66/11kV 20 MVA high impedance 11/11kV regulators and a new switchboard at the Gladstone South Zone Substation by 2015
In accordance with the requirements of the National Electricity Rules, this is now a Final Report where Ergon Energy provides both economic and technical information about possible solutions, and the solution decided on, being Option 1, to install two new 20 MVA 66/11kV transformers and a new switchboard at the Gladstone South Zone Substation by 2015.
| Gladstone South Final Recommendation Report 15 July 2014 | filesize: 434 KB (.pdf) |
| Gladstone South Consultation Draft Recommendation 19 March 2014 | filesize: 425 KB (.pdf) |
| Gladstone South RFI 18 Dec 2013 | filesize: 229 KB (.pdf) |
Information relating to the consultation about this project is provided on our web site:
For further information, please email: regulatory.tests@ergon.com.au