Thousands of homes and businesses in Caboolture Shire in Queensland, Australia, will benefit from Energex’s recently completed multi-million dollar boost to the electricity network.

Detailed commissioning work had recently been completed on a new substation off Bribie Island Road at Ningi that will greatly improve the electricity supply in the region.

The Caboolture Shire is one of the fastest growing parts of Energex’s South East Queensland distribution area with dozens of new houses and units and commercial premises connecting to the local electricity network every week.

Indications are that the surging local power demand is expected to continue to increase at rates above regional and national averages.

The increased capacity provides Energex technicians greater switching options to restore power faster after unexpected power interruptions caused by storms, trees hitting powerlines or damage to overhead wires or underground cables.

Residents and business operators in Ningi, Toorbul, Bribie Island, Meldale, Donnybrook, Beachmere and Caboolture will benefit from the upgrade.

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 $827 million on upgrades to its electricity network while a further $306 million has been set aside to maintain and operate the network – that’s an overall average of more than $3 million a day.