Government drives reform to improve FNQ electricity supply

The State Government is getting on with the job to ensure Ergon Energy improves reliability of electricity supply to Far North Queenslanders, Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said Ergon Energy is spending at least $646.4 million in capital works and maintenance expenditure on its network during 2004-05. This is a 26% increase on the $511.7 million it spent in 2003-04."

"In the North Region alone (including Cairns and Innisfail), Ergon is spending $211.5 million in capital and maintenance expenditure this year; compared with $205 million last year," he said.

Mr Robertson said the State Government was addressing underlying weaknesses in the management of Queensland's electricity network identified by the Independent Review into Electricity Distribution and Service Delivery For the 21st Century.

"The review's report basically says the reliability of supply is not good enough.

"It says Ergon Energy's capital expenditure has not been adequate to cater for current demand and future growth.

"Clearly, Ergon Energy needs to improve the reliability of supply to regional Queensland, including Cairns, Innisfail, and the rest of Far North Queensland -- and the Beattie Government will be making sure it does!"

Mr Robertson said the State Government would mandate minimum reliability standards for Ergon Energy that will relate to the number and duration of power outages.

"We will also develop service standards and set targets for Ergon Energy to improve reliability in the worst parts of its regional network. "

"Overall, we have a good system but there are some major weaknesses and we are going to fix them," he said.

Mr Robertson said Ergon Energy's electricity distribution network covers an area of 1,698,100 square kilometres - or 97% of Queensland - and services 580,000 customers.

"The network contains 145,000 kilometres of powerlines, around 1,000,000 power poles, 70,000 substations and more than 1,200 high voltage powerlines."

MAJOR FNQ WORKS UNDERTAKEN IN 2003-04 INCLUDE:

* A $25 million project to improve the Cooktown region's power supply with a new 132kV link running from Mt Molloy to Cooktown.

* Around $2 million on works on the Atherton Zone Substation to ensure the future power needs of the region can be met.

* Conversion of the Edmonton Switching Station to a substation, upgrading from 22kV to 132kV, supplying 10,000 customers between Cairns and Gordonvale in a joint project between Ergon Energy and Powerlink.

* Ongoing work on a $1.4 million Cyclone Area Reliability Enhancement (CARE) project in Tully to underground 6km of cable that supplies essential infrastructure including the SES, Tully Hospital, the sewerage treatment plant, the Civic Centre, Pine Haven Nursing Home, supermarkets, and most businesses in the main street.

* A $300,000 CARE project to construct a 1km underground feeder to the Warrina Nursing Home in Innisfail, to reduce outages associated with weather and improve reliability to the nursing home.

MAJOR FNQ WORKS PLANNED FOR 2004-05 INCLUDE

* $6.5 million over the next five years to ensure the power needs of Cairns's growing northern beaches are met, with capacity to be increased by 25% with four underground feeders running between Kamerunga and a new switching station at McGregor Road in Smithfield.

* A $620,000 project to upgrade electricity infrastructure in the Utchee Creek area (south of Innisfail), including 12 km of new powerlines, the replacement of 40 power poles, and 17 new substations in the Utchee Creek Road area.

* A $1.5 million project to install isolation transformers and new reclosers on the major SWER (Single Wire Earth Return) schemes in the Malanda, Milla Milla and Peeramon areas.

* $120,000 to install reclosers and isolation transformers in the Yungaburra, Malanda and Peeramon areas (separate from the SWER schemes).

* $200,000 to upgrade circuit breakers at the Babinda Substation.

* $200,000 to replace 9km of conductor in the Tinaroo Creek Road area in Mareeba.

* An $800,000 CARE / Community Powerline Project to underground supply to major infrastructure in Mossman.

MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3896 3689