Nearly 11,000 homes and businesses in the Pine Rivers area of southeaast Queensland, Australia are benefiting from a recently completed multi-million dollar ENERGEX upgrade to the local electricity network. The $3.8 million upgrade injects another 50% capacity into the Kallangur substation which allows for future increased demand on electricity in Kallangur, Lawnton, Griffin, Dakabin, Kurwongbah, Petrie and Murrumba Downs.

Work included the installation of an additional 33/11-kV transformer, new 11-kV switchgear and associated substation equipment. The expansion also required the relocation and upgrade of the front fence.

A forecast increase in local power demand is the driving force behind the upgrades. These upgrades will allow for significant future growth in the Kallangur area which is expected to increase its power usage by 15% over the next four years. Factors such as rapid commercial expansion, affordable home air-conditioning, and the fact households and businesses are using far more electricity than they were 10 years ago were the drivers behind these new upgrades.

ENERGEX thanked locals for their patience during the necessary upgrades. The project is part of a record $4 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by ENERGEX. In the 2007-08 financial year ENERGEX is investing around $800 million on upgrades to its electricity network while a further $300 million-plus has been set aside to maintain and operate the network – that’s an overall average of more than $3 million a day.