16 | Powerco T T Kim Newth New substation meets growing demand Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew: “Western Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing areas in the country...” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Electricity lines company Powerco has invested $11 million in a new electricity substation at Rangiuru Business Park in western Bay of Plenty, as industrial and commercial activity continues ramping up in the district. Powerco is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest dual electricity and gas distributor by network length, with more than a million people connected to its networks. In western Bay of Plenty, Powerco’s longterm planning approach is ensuring that growth into the future will be backed by reliable electricity supply. The new 33kV and 11kV substation at Rangiuru Business Park was commissioned earlier this year to help power new businesses south-east of Mt Maunganui and Pāpāmoa. “Western Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and, as the electricity distribution company for this area, it’s important that we provide the substations, lines, cables and other electrical equipment so that local people can power their homes and businesses, now and in the future,” says Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew. “The new electricity substation at Rangiuru Business Park is part of the wider work we’re doing to support growth happening in western Bay of Plenty.” Conveniently located alongside State Highway 2, Rangiuru Business Park has easy access to major North island destinations as well as global markets via the Port of Tauranga, providing a springboard for business expansion and access to new markets. After years of planning and work, Powerco’s new electricity substation has come online at the right time. With Rangiuru Business Park expected to attract large new customers, a significant increase in electricity demand is anticipated in coming years. “The substation will be an important component of the distribution network in western Bay of Plenty, providing a reliable electricity supply for new customers, while enabling New Zealand’s largest supplier of Masonry, Paving, Certified® Concrete, Concrete Retaining Wall Systems and Dricon® bagged concrete. 0800 FIRTH 1 0800 CONCRETE FIRTH.CO.NZ TRUSTED NAME IN CONCRETE THE future network expansion as electricity demand increases. We’re monitoring electricity load as new customers connect and have plans for a second transformer that can help support economic growth in that area. “Thank you to our contractors who worked with us on this project, including Unison Contracting Services for the electrical work, Watts and Hughes for the civil work and Bayonne Construction whose team installed a large amount of cabling to supply the new substation.” In addition to building the new substation, Powerco is working in a coordinated way with the owner and operator of the national grid, Transpower, to deliver the long term electricity infrastructure needed to support the region’s growth for at least the next 25 years. Transpower and Powerco estimate that by 2035 demand for electricity across Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke and Ōmokoroa will increase by at least 40 percent. “By 2050, electricity use could be more than double what it is today. So, it’s really important that we plan for this. Both Powerco and Transpower want the same thing — to reliably meet western Bay of Plenty’s energy needs in the years to come. To do that, we need to build the electricity infrastructure backbone first. Then Powerco will follow with projects to take the bulk power Transpower supplies to the business parks, community facilities, and local neighbourhoods where people will use it. Together we ensure that supply is available where it’s needed.” P: 07 308 5596 E: admin@bwengineering.co.nz 38 Valley Rd, Whakatane excellence in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Specialists in Structural and Seismic Strengthening for Commercial and Residential work, General Steel Work, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, All Fabrication &Welding. Heavy Engineering & Earthmoving Equipment
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