Palmerston North upgrade continues

A second transformer has been successfully installed at Powerco’s Ferguson St substation in Palmerston North as part of the significant upgrade of electricity assets in the region.

The new Ferguson St substation was commissioned in 2019 with one transformer -equipment which converts high voltage electricity from the national grid into lower voltages for distribution to homes and businesses.

The installation of the second transformer is the next phase of the substation project.

The new transformer will be commissioned later this year, and once connected it will provide the extra capacity needed to reduce load at the Pascal and Main Street substations, ensuring security of supply.

The substation project is part of Powerco’s investment programme in the Manawatu to renew and add assets to future-proof power supply to meet the region’s growing needs.

The programme includes installation of larger-capacity underground cables through the Palmerston North CBD, the construction of two new underground cables between the Linton and Ferguson St substations, and the refurbishment of the Linton substation.

Installation of the transformer at the Ferguson St Substation required the removal of the roof of the substation, and the use of a crane to manoeuvre the transformer into the substation building.

Powerco thanks residents and businesses for their patience and co-operation while this essential work was conducted.