Transpower Proposes Further Investment In Power Supply For Hawke's Bay
Transpower plans to invest $47.0 million to rebuild its Redclyffe substation to better protect Hawke's Bay's electricity supply against flooding and earthquakes.
The national electricity transmission grid owner submitted a proposal to the Commerce Commission today for approval to rebuild the main 220kV switchyard on the existing site, raising essential equipment out of the reach of potential flood waters.
Transpower's Executive General Manager Grid Development Matt Webb said this is another aspect of the work to rebuild the substation after it was flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
'After Cyclone Gabrielle, we made a commitment to the people of Hawke's Bay to make their region's power supply more resilient to extreme weather and seismic events,' he said.
'Residents can be confident that our interim upgrades have protected their power supply, and the work we're proposing now will make Redclyffe substation flood resilient to a 1-in-450-year flooding event and much more resilient to earthquakes.
'For the people of Napier, Hastings and surrounding areas, that would mean the power is more likely to stay on during catastrophic weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle.'
Mr Webb said Transpower has already completed significant work at Redclyffe substation to improve security of supply in the region since Cyclone Gabrielle.
Interim upgrades to the 110 kV switchyard were made in 2023 to make the equipment there more resilient to flooding, and an interim 220 kV control room has also been installed above the flood level.
A new 220 kV/110 kV interconnecting transformer is currently being installed that will significantly boost reliability of electricity supply in the region.
Under New Zealand's electricity transmission regulatory framework, the Commerce Commission reviews and approves Transpower's work plans to ensure investment is cost-effective and in the long-term interests of New Zealanders.
'We've engaged extensively with local communities on our plans for the region alongside our local lines company partner Unison Networks,' Mr Webb said.
'We believe this is the most cost-effective approach that also takes into account growing demand for electricity in the region. We have strong support from key stakeholders for our proposal and we look forward to the Commerce Commission rigorously testing our plans and costings.'
Once the Commerce Commission approve the proposal, Transpower expects to start the work in October 2026 and finish by December 2027.
The work can be completed without any impact to local electricity supply, Mr Webb said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Supercharging Residential Solar Power Generation
Minister for Energy Hon Chris Penk Minister for Building and Construction The Government is expanding the permitted voltage range for electricity networks, so Kiwis with solar panels can send more power back to the grid. Changes are being made to clarify that a building consent is not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings. Councils will be required to process building consents for new homes with solar panels within 10 working days, down from the standard 20 working days. Common sense changes in the energy and building consent systems will drive greater residential solar uptake in New Zealand, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. 'New Zealand's residential uptake of rooftop solar is lower than many other countries. This Government wants to change that so more Kiwis can generate, store, and send their own electricity back to the market. This will allow them to save on their power bills and contribute to a more secure electricity system,' Mr Watts says. 'Rooftop solar will play a crucial role in supporting energy security and reducing emissions. But our networks need to be able to better support the growing flow of electricity from consumers, while also dealing with growing demand for more electric vehicle charging. 'That's why we are expanding the voltage range from +/- 6 percent to +/- 10 percent to manage the changing flow of electricity from rooftop solar and EV charging. This will future proof our electricity system and help electrify the economy. 'Modelling suggests this change could boost solar investment and overall generation by a whopping 507 GWh through increased solar connections. This is great for the security of our energy supply.' Mr Penk says the building consent system can help accelerate the shift towards renewable energy. 'We need the right incentives in place to make rooftop solar a realistic option for Kiwis. 'The Government is focused on getting people into safe, affordable homes faster – and we want those homes to be sustainable and future-ready. 'With the energy system preparing for a surge in residential solar, the consenting process needs to play its part to support the transition. 'We are proposing changes to the Building Act, that will make it clear that a building consent is not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings. 'Right now, decision-making is inconsistent between councils – creating unnecessary barriers for homeowners who want to take responsibility for their environmental impact and make sustainable choices. "As a further incentive, we are also proposing that Kiwis who choose to include solar panels in the design of new homes will have their entire building consent fast-tracked and processed in 10 working days instead of the standard 20 working days, saving Kiwis around $400 a day in time and consenting costs.' 'Delivering the best outcomes for New Zealanders is incredibly important to Minister Penk and me. Expanding the voltage range could help avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrade costs to accommodate rooftop solar and EV charging being passed on to Kiwi households,' Mr Watts says. 'Combined, these common-sense and cost-effective changes will boost the resilience of New Zealand's electricity supply, make it easier and cheaper for Kiwis to build sustainable homes, and spur New Zealand's residential solar market into the future.' Notes: New Zealand appliance standards have aligned with international +/-10% voltage requirements since the 1980s, meaning compliant appliances should already operate safely within the new voltage range. Consumers using older devices that don't meet New Zealand or international appliance standards may use a surge protector, but consistent high-end voltage delivery is unlikely. The expert modelling referred to in this release was prepared by grid connection specialists, ASNA.
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Veteran project manager keen to help
The project manager who helped lead award-winning projects such as the digitalization of New Zealand's arrival cards has swapped Wellington for the much quieter Cromwell and hopes to bring her skills to the district. Pip Rudhall Hyett runs her own project management company, with her niche being leading projects in a people-first manner. A lot of project managers were hard taskmasters, where just getting things done was the focus, she said. Where she differs in her approach was focusing on making relationships and leading projects with a emphasis on people. Mrs Rudhall Hyett originally started off as a operations manager before moving to become a project co-ordinator. It was as a project co-ordinator where she found that she was good at the people side of the job, which involved talking and getting other people to talk with one another. With lots of encouragement from others, she decided to take up project management six years ago. She has worked on various government projects, which included the digitalization of the New Zealand arrival card and for the Commerce Commission. The arrival card project was a massive programme which involved more than 150 people working together, spread out over four different agencies, with three different teams in each agency she said. "So different legal people, different policies, different law and aligning all of that to the technology that we were building, which is now in your phone, for when you arrive in New Zealand. "Very complex, lots of different objectives, and people that ... weren't used to working together," she said. Mrs Rudhall Hyett led the policy, legal and privacy work streams. The arrival card project went on to win two major national awards, the project of the year and technology project of the year at the 2025 Project Management Institute Awards. The work was satisfying as she would help groups navigate through issues, show them how it can be done and then get them talking and trusting one another, she said. Mrs Rudhall Hyett would then begin to step back little by little and see the relationships continue. "It's quite emotional to actually leave them, if I'm honest. But that's the whole plan, is to leave them in a better place than when I started, I love what I do, I love the success of delivering a project." The move to Cromwell was inspired in part by the fact that she and her family had already been vacationing there for 20 years. Now after living in the region for six months full-time, she hoped to apply her experience to regional projects. The more complex projects were the ones that Mrs Rudhall Hyett liked the most "I'm always looking for a good challenge ... I like to kind of keep stretching my brain" While she liked to work larger more complex projects, now, she was hoping to take on some smaller projects to help understand the Central Otago market better and to see what was actually needed in the region. "You've got some pretty amazing organisations here, lots of amazing small businesses, some really large businesses as well, but also those organisations that need help you know, they're struggling to get people to talk to each other or they've got so many different stakeholders that they don't know where to start," she said. Mrs Rudhall Hyett said the thing she enjoyed about her job the most was the people. "It is the people. It's the people that keep me coming back to do a project every day."
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Scoop
BARNZ Welcomes The Tourism Growth Roadmap – Agrees We've Got Work To Do To Rebuild Tourism
BARNZ welcomes the opportunity to work with government and industry to make sure New Zealand is a great choice for visitors and for the airlines who connect New Zealand to the world for travel and trade. Auckland, 12 June 2025 – The Board of Airline Representatives of New Zealand (BARNZ) welcomes announcement of the Tourism Growth Roadmap by Minister of Tourism Louise Upston. 'It's great to see New Zealand setting a clear aspiration for tourism growth,' says Cath O'Brien, Executive Director of BARNZ. 'Tourism has long supported our economic growth as a nation. We need to work hard to make sure that New Zealand is a great choice for visitors, and for the airlines that bring them here. 'New Zealand has not yet recovered 2019 visitor numbers. Looking at our traditional busy summer season, air capacity to the New Zealand market grew by just 0.5% between New Zealand summer 2023 and 2024. Airlines are now finalising network plans for New Zealand summer 2025/26, and it's fair to say we still aren't seeing strong growth for international air services. We need to work as hard as we can to change this – for the economic health and prosperity of New Zealand and New Zealanders.' BARNZ welcomes the opportunity to work with government and industry to make sure New Zealand is a great choice for visitors and for the airlines who connect New Zealand to the world for travel and trade. 'Airlines operating to New Zealand are often operating at extremes of aircraft limits in making journey here,' says O'Brien. 'We need to make sure that our aviation system is open for business 24/7. One of the practical improvements we could make is to ensure Airways is able to provide air traffic control at New Zealand's long haul alternate RNZAF Ohakea at night. At present, Ohakea doesn't have air traffic control coverage around the clock. Without air traffic control at Ohakea, airlines have to carry huge amounts of extra jet fuel for services here – which might mean they can't sell all their seats in an effort to reduce weight. These sorts of limitations make flights to New Zealand a real commercial challenge. The rising cost for airlines to connect to New Zealand also needs to be considered. 'Between rising charges for the Auckland Airport rebuild, and increasing government levies for things like CAA, costs for airlines flying to New Zealand is rising like never before.' While the Commerce Commission has encouraged reduced increases in Auckland Airport charges this year and next, costs associated with Auckland Airport's Master Plan create further burden. 'It all adds up. Part of the solution for tourism growth is better aviation system cost control. At present airports, CAA, Airways and border agencies all increase costs one at a time – there's no oversight of the total cost for airlines flying here. We need to know what it costs airlines to fly here – and what the impact of further cost increases will be. The global tourism industry is a dynamic business. New Zealand needs to compete with the world to attract visitors – and we need to make sure we do this as well as we can. BARNZ welcomes the aspiration set out in the Tourism Growth Roadmap – BARNZ and its members are up for the recovery challenge.
