We're upgrading our Evans Bay substation to improve the electricity network in your area.
About the project
Wellington Electricity (we*) is your local lines company responsible for managing the poles, wires and equipment that safely deliver electricity to Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.
From July 2023, work will commence at our Evans Bay substation on the corner of Rongotai Road and Troy Street in Kilbirnie. We'll be constructing a new building, replacing two power transformers, installing a prefabricated switchroom, and upgrading the existing outdoor electrical structures.
We're also going to be upgrading our control and protection equipment that's housed inside the substation.
What's involved
The project is complex, so we expect the work will take around a year to complete. During this time, our contractors (Omexom New Zealand and Sparrow Construction) will be working on and around the substation at 153 Rongotai Road from 7.30am until 6pm each week, Monday to Saturday.
The excavations, construction and electrical work will take place within the confines of the substation grounds so any disruption should be kept to a minimum. However, there will be times when large equipment will be delivered to the site which could impact traffic on these days.
Why we're upgrading
Our equipment is continually monitored in line with our Asset Management Plan. As part of this, we've identified that the transformers and high voltage cables supplying the substation need to be repaired or replaced.
We'll replace the transformers by 2024 and the cables in the next few years. While we plan the cable replacement, the new switchroom will ensure that we can continue to deliver a reliable supply of electricity to Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Rongotai (including the Airport Precinct), and the northern part of Te Motu Kairangi/Miramar Peninsula.
How the work might affect you
We've written to residents and businesses in the area and will continue to do so throughout the project. There will be traffic management in place for when we need to bring in large equipment and there may be noise impacts at times.
Please be assured that we will be doing our best to minimise any disturbance while we complete this work.
Wellington Electricity (we*) is your local lines company responsible for managing the poles, wires and equipment that safely deliver electricity to Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.
We've been working with our contractors to look at ways in which we can improve reliability in the Pāuatahanui, Paekākāriki Hill, and Judgeford areas. Our improvement plans include replacing, fixing, inspecting, and maintaining the poles, wires and other equipment that makes up the electricity network in your area. Some of this work has already begun as of November 2022, but there is still more to come.
We'll be contacting residents and businesses in the area by email and via electricity retailers, and will continue to do so throughout the project (along with in-person letter drops from our crews). You can expect:
- traffic management & road closures,
- planned outages,
- a need for us to access your land (where our equipment is on private property),
- notification that your trees may be too close to power lines and need to be cut or trimmed.
Please be assured that we will be doing our best to minimise any impacts to you while we complete this work. For any planned outages, your electricity retailer will let you know if and when you'll be affected.
We recently held a community gathering at Flighty's Cafe where we provided an update on where we're at with the project. If you missed it and would like to see the presentation, please email us and we'll be happy to send you a copy.
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