A $2.7 million upgrade to the Lowood substation in the Somerset, Australia, region, and the surrounding power network has provided a major boost to energy supplies in the area.

More than 900 homes and businesses in the town and surrounding areas of Somerset regional council are benefiting from the new 8 MVA substation and upgraded powerlines. The additional capacity will also provide power for the new water grid’s pumping station.

The Kleinhams Court substation was required to ensure Energex’s local power network could cater for the projected four percent annual increase in local domestic and commercial electricity demand.

Data collected by Energex shows that more families and businesses are moving into the area while at the same time existing residents are rapidly installing quality of life products such as home air conditioning. .

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.

Energex is one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing corporations with more than 3900 staff working in a range of roles to supply electricity to a population of around 2.8 million people in South East Queensland. The company’s distribution area of 25,000 square km includes more than 50,000 km of underground and overhead electricity lines and cables, over 600,000 power poles, some 42,000 transformers and more than 295,000 street lights.