Regulatory test consultations

Ergon Energy has prepared this Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(o) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need at Cannonvale.

Ergon Energy has prepared this Draft Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the second stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need at Cannonvale.

Cannonvale 66/11kV substation (CANN) and the surrounding 66 kV sub-transmission network supplies approximately 7,198 customers including major customers such as the Proserpine Sugar Mill, Hamilton Island, South Molle Island and Daydream Island.

The 66 kV sub-transmission network in the Cannonvale and Jubilee Pocket area consists of radial 66 kV timber pole lines with a number of sections of underground cable. There is currently no remote switching capability.

In its current state, due to the radial nature of the network and the reliance upon manual switching, a credible fault on the sub-transmission network in the Cannonvale and Jubilee Pocket area would mean that load cannot be restored within the requirements of the Safety Net security criteria, with this situation worsening as load increases.

This report is an invitation to registered participants and interested parties to make submissions on credible options to address this identified need.

Ergon Energy has prepared this Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(o) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need at Cape River.

Ergon Energy has identified a need for investment to remediate the safety and reliability risks currently associated with the aged assets at Cape River Substation in order to maintain a safe, reliable supply of electricity to customers in the Cape River region.

This notice has been prepared under clause 5.17.4(d) of the NER and summarises Ergon Energy's determination that no non-network option is, or forms a significant part of, any potential credible option for this RIT-D.

Ergon Energy is seeking information about possible solutions to address the reliability concerns in the Douglas Shire supply region, which may be able to be provided by parties other than Ergon Energy.

Bundaberg is a regional city located 360km north of Brisbane with a population of approximately 93,000 people. East Bundaberg 66/11kV Zone Substation (EABU) is located on the eastern edge of Bundaberg city and supplies a diverse mix of industrial, residential, and agricultural zones. There are approximately 8900 customers connected to the distribution network, including a number of major commercial and industrial customers located in Bundaberg and further north at Burnett Heads.

A condition assessment of East Bundaberg Zone Substation (EABU) has identified assets that are recommended for replacement. These assets are forecast to reach retirement based on a combination of Condition Based Risk Management (CBRM) modelling and known issues with problematic plant, which are required to be replaced or decommissioned to manage the safety and network risks associated with unplanned failure.

The internal investigations undertaken on the feasibility of the non-network solutions revealed that it is unlikely to find a complete non-network solution or a hybrid (combined network and non-network) solution to provide the magnitude of network support required in the East Bundaberg area to address the identified need.

The preferred network option is to replace the assets in poor condition. This notice of no non-network options is therefore published in accordance with rule 5.17.4(d) of the National Electricity Rules. As the next step in the RIT-D process, Ergon Energy will now proceed to publish a Final Project Assessment Report.

Ergon Energy has prepared this Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(o) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need in the Townsville region.

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited (Ergon Energy) has prepared this Draft Project Assessment Report (the Report) in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the second stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need in the Townsville region.

Ergon Energy has identified a need for investment to remediate the safety and reliability risks currently associated with the aged assets at Garbutt Substation in order to maintain a safe, reliable supply of electricity to customers in the Townsville region.

This notice has been prepared under clause 5.17.4(d) of the NER and summarises Ergon Energy's determination that no non-network option is, or forms a significant part of, any potential credible option for this RIT-D.

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited has prepared this Revised Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules.

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need in the township of Gracemere.

Pialba 66/11kV substation (PIALSS) is a Zone Substation which supplies approximately 5200 customers and 16MVA of peak load. PIALSS is located near the centre of Hervey Bay town and supplies the CBD area, the Hervey Bay Hospital, and the main shopping centre. There is also an extensive distribution network that supplies residential customers in the surrounding suburbs.

A condition assessment of PIALSS has identified assets that are recommended for replacement. These assets are forecast to reach retirement based on a combination of Condition Based Risk Management (CBRM) modelling and known issues with problematic plant, which are required to be replaced or decommissioned to manage the safety and network risks associated with unplanned failure.

The internal investigations undertaken on the feasibility of the non-network solutions revealed that it is unlikely to find a complete non-network solution or a hybrid (combined network and non-network) solution to provide the magnitude of network support required in the Hervey Bay area to address the identified need.

The preferred network option is to replace the assets in poor condition. This notice of no non-network options is therefore published in accordance with rule 5.17.4(d) of the National Electricity Rules. As the next step in the RIT-D process, Ergon Energy will now proceed to publish a Final Project Assessment Report.

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited (Ergon Energy) has prepared this Draft Project Assessment Report (the Report) in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the second stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need.

Broxburn substation 33/11kV supplies the township of Pittsworth. Maximum demand in 2018 exceeded the substation nameplate capacity and is expected to exceed the emergency cyclic capacity by 2022. The two transformers at Broxburn substation were manufactured in the 1960s that they are near end of life including associated high voltage switches.

Ergon Energy has proposed to address these limitations by installing a 10MVA skid transformer and completed by December 2021.

This report is an invitation to registered participants and interested parties to make submissions about possible alternate solutions to address the identified limitations.

Ergon Energy has prepared this Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(o) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need at Planella.

Ergon Energy has prepared this Draft Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the second stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need at Planella.

Planella 33/11kV substation (PLAN), located on the northern beaches of Mackay, is supplied via a single radial wood pole 33 kV sub-transmission line between North Mackay (NOMA) 33/11 kV substation and Planella substation.

Under most circumstances, the wood poles of the 33 kV sub-transmission line are accessible; however in the event of periods of heavy rainfall and/or king tides, sections of the line become virtually inaccessible.

In its current state, a fault on this line in an inaccessible location would mean that load cannot be restored within the requirements of the Safety Net security criteria, with this situation worsening as load increases.

This report is an invitation to registered participants and interested parties to make submissions on credible options to address this identified need.

Point Vernon 66/11kV Zone Substation (POVE) supplies 10,700 customers. POVE is energised radially from Pialba 66/11kV Zone Substation (PIAL) via a 5.1km single circuit concrete pole 66kV feeder (M023). Load at POVE peaked at 21MVA in February 2020 and is forecast to increase to approximately 23MVA by 2032. Proposed residential and commercial developments in the suburbs of Dundowran, Craignish, Toogoom and Eli Waters are continuing and may result in load growth in excess of the forecast.

The purpose of this project is to address compliance with the Safety Net provisions of the Distribution Authority.

The internal investigations undertaken on the feasibility of the non-network solutions revealed that it is unlikely to find a complete non-network solution or a hybrid (combined network and non-network) solution to provide the magnitude of network support required in the Point Vernon area to address the identified need.

The preferred network option is to extend a new 66kV feeder to POVE to address Safety Net requirements. This notice of no non-network options is therefore published in accordance with rule 5.17.4(d) of the National Electricity Rules. As the next step in the RIT-D process, Ergon Energy will now proceed to publish a Draft Project Assessment Report.

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited (Ergon Energy) has prepared this Final Project Assessment Report in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the final stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the RIT-D on potential credible options to address the identified need to continue to provide electricity to the consumers in the Upper Burnett supply area in a reliable, safe and cost-effective manner.

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited (Ergon Energy) has prepared this Draft Project Assessment Report (the Report) in accordance with the requirements of clause 5.17.4(i) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

This report represents the second stage of the consultation process in relation to the application of the Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D) on potential credible options to address the identified need.

The existing 66kV M028 feeder forms part of the 66kV subtransmission network supplying the 66/11kV zone substations Degilbo, Gayndah, Mundubbera Town and Eidsvold as well as the Mount Rawdon gold mine.

Feeder M028 is 92km long, 64 years old and has reached its end of life based on the condition of the 7/.104 HDBC conductor and wooden poles.

Ergon Energy has identified that the preferred internal network option is to replace the entire aged M028 feeder with a new 66kV single circuit concrete pole feeder, strung with Neon conductor and optical ground wire (OPGW), originating from the 132/66kV Isis Bulk Supply Point and connecting Degilbo and Gayndah zone substations by December 2023.

This is a Non-Network Options Report, where Ergon Energy is seeking information from interested parties about possible alternate solutions to address the need for investment.