Power boost to withstand wild weather of the west

A $5 million upgrade to Milmerrran’s electricity network will boost its ability to withstand outages in the lightning-prone area, Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

The upgrade involved a new, 27km concrete overhead feeder line to supply power to Millmerran and Pampas from the bulk supply point at Middle Ridge.

Mr Wilson said the feeder line would enhance the reliability of the existing line, which was built more than 40 years ago on wooden poles.

“The Milmerran area is known for its lightning activity, which has contributed to power supply interruptions in recent years,” Mr Wilson said.

“With the spring storm season fast approaching, the good news is that this project has been completed more than a month ahead of schedule, as well as coming in under budget.

“That means residents and businesses in this area can look forward to a reduced impact from lightning strikes this year and the new line will also be better able to withstand strong winds.“

Mr Wilson said the upgrade would also significantly enhance the capacity of the local network, which would improve the quality of supply in the Millmerran area.

“The growing demand for power from residential, business and farming customers in the area meant the previous line was operating near capacity at times of peak load, while the new line will meet the expected demand for many years,” he said.

The line will be energised at 33,000 volts, but has been designed and built as a 66,000-volt line so it can be further upgraded in future if required.

Note – Photos of Ergon officers energising the feeder line are available

Media contact: Minister’s office 3224 7332.