Connection Commissioned

After over ten years in the planning our biggest project ever, the South Waikato National Grid Connection has been successfully commissioned and is now on load.

The 110kV line between Transpower’s Arapuni Substation and our Putāruru Substation is now providing more capacity and security of supply to over 11,500 of our customers in the South Waikato area.

Construction of the line in collaboration with Northpower started at the end of 2021 and involved the installation of 76 new overhead structures, as well as cable sections at either end of the connection.

Our Putāruru Substation also underwent a major upgrade to enable the connection to terminate there. That included the construction of a new outdoor 110kV switchyard, new indoor 11kV and 33kV switchrooms and installation of new switchboards, as well as two new 33kV/11kV transformers.

Enabling works to underground existing 11kV lines along the route on Arapuni Road were also required.

Alongside the new connection, a new 33kV cable linking the Putāruru and Tirau Substations and an upgrade of the 33kV switchboard at our Lake Road Substation were also completed to help ensure security of supply for South Waikato.

Working with the local community was key to the success of the project, with the South Waikato District Council, Iwi and local landowners all involved in the selection of the route, and the placement of poles.

The community will now benefit from the connection for years to come.

“The community have an asset that will enable them to decarbonise and provide resilience of supply for the long term. It is both adaptation and mitigation in one hit.  What a fantastic effort from all the teams involved to deliver this CPP project safely and ahead of schedule – well done!” says CEO James Kilty.