Transpower’s South Auckland $36m investment approved

The Commerce Commission has allowed Transpower to invest $36 million to replace ageing infrastructure and cater for increasing electricity demand in South Auckland – expected to also allow for EV charging.

“Consistent with our draft decision, we remain of the view that this investment is needed to increase the capacity of the network and improve the reliability of electricity supply to the Bombay-Otahuhu region,” commission deputy chair Sue Begg says.

The decision allows Transpower to recover the cost from consumers of purchasing and commissioning two new transformers at the Bombay grid exit point, as well as undertaking preparatory work to replace conductors on the Otahuhu to Wiri line.

Transpower applied to the commission in May 2020 to invest in its Bombay-Otahuhu regional network by June 2023. 

“Our decision enables Transpower to deliver the right investment at the right time to meet future demand,” Begg says.

Transpower is determining likely costs of conductor replacement for the Otahuhu to Wiri line. It intends to replace the conductors and recover the cost of the proposed replacement by seeking an amendment to the commission’s decision later.

“We recognise there have been some concerns about resilience and the potential removal of the Bombay to Wiri line following the completion of the proposed Otahuhu to Wiri reconductoring,” Begg says.

“Our decision does not affect the future of the Bombay to Wiri line, and we encourage Transpower to work with its customers in the region to resolve those concerns.”

Click here to read the final decision.