To support its customers’ needs now and into the future, AusNet is investing in major upgrades to Victoria’s energy network.
The utility has several key projects and programs already underway, and these initiatives are aimed at growing capacity, supporting growth across the regions and improving customer reliability.
In addition to these projects, AusNet has also spent $202 million on network maintenance and $68 million on vegetation management in the last 12 months.
Projects in northern Victoria:
- A new $18 million zone substation will be built in Kilmore to provide extra network capacity for growth in Kilmore and Wallan. This means a more secure and reliable grid and will enable more customer connections in Whittlesea and Mitchell shires.
- A $28.5 million transformer augmentation for Wodonga Terminal Station to deliver a more secure and reliable grid and enable more customer connections in this area.
- A $16.5 million upgrade for the Benalla Zone Substation.
- A $180,000 reliability upgrade for Indigo Shire.
- A $8 million project to upgrade insulated conductors in Mitchell Shire’s high bushfire-prone areas over two years.
- A $7 million program to upgrade bushfire mitigation protection systems in multiple shires, aimed at enhancing reliability and safety, including a fuse replacement program.
- An $11 million program of high-voltage switch upgrades to improve power quality and better protection for the network across several shires.
- A $6 million project to upgrade security and protect critical assets in multiple areas.
Projects in central Victoria:
- A $21.5 million upgrade for the Clyde North Zone Substation, which will include new high-voltage feeders, a power transformer and an upgraded switchboard. This project will create more capacity, enabling the connection of more customers and renewables into the network.
- A $10 million upgrade for the Thomastown Zone Substation, which includes replacement of 66kV assets and protection and control systems. This project will be completed in 2026.
- A $25 million investment to replace 22kV assets at Bayswater Zone Substation.
- A $24 million program over the next two years to augment rapid earth fault current limiters (REFCL) systems in the Lilydale area.
- A $10 million bushfire mitigation program for multiple shires. This two-year project includes protection system upgrades and fuse replacement programs to enhance reliability and maintain network safety.
- A $19 million reliability improvement program over two years. This project includes high-voltage switch upgrades as well as upgrades to plant and communications systems in multiple shires.
- A $494,000 security upgrade package to protect critical assets.
Projects in eastern Victoria:
- A $31 million project to replace the transformers and rebuild parts of the Warrigal Zone Substation.
- A three-year, $16 million program to upgrade feeders and a switchboard in Warrigal to create extra capacity.
- A $19 million project to upgrade Traralgon Zone Substation, which includes replacing two power transformers and changing the configuration to improve reliability. This project will be completed in 2026.
- A $32 million program to replace 66kV assets, protection systems and capacitor bank at Maffra Zone Substation. This project is to be completed in 2025.
- A $7 million investment in the Gippsland Communication Equipment Replacement Project.
- A $20 million investment to upgrade the Bairnsdale Zone Substation and augment the REFCL system.
- A $40 million bushfire mitigation program for multiple shires. This two-year project includes protection system upgrades and fuse replacement programs to enhance reliability and maintain network safety.
- A $17 million investment to improve reliability several areas, such as high-voltage switch upgrades, upgrades to plant and communication systems and works to prevent wildlife interaction with network equipment.
- A $1.5 million security upgrade package to protect critical assets.
- A $5.5 million reliability improvement program in Baw Baw, including upgrades to critical lines to improve network resilience in storm events.
- A $7 million investment over three years to upgrade the Morwell to Traralgon 66kV line, which will enable more renewable generation to connect in the region and address demand and voltage compliance.
