Ausgrid’s newly commissioned Cessnock South zone substation in NSW is now supplying power to homes and businesses in Cessnock, Bellbird, Kitchener and Aberdare, as well as vineyards to the west of Cessnock.
Work on the $14.5 million project began in 2016.
Chief Operating Officer, Trevor Armstrong, said it is replacing the existing zone substation at 23 South Avenue in Cessnock.
“The old substation was built in 1963 and needed to be replaced as key pieces of equipment are nearing the end of their working life,” Mr Armstrong said.
“The new substation will help secure the electricity supply for local homes and businesses into the future and gives the local network a greater level of resiliency.”
It has been built on land owned by Ausgrid adjacent to the old substation which will also be retained.
Connections for more than half of the customers have already been switched over to the new substation with the rest to be transferred by the end of March 2018 when the old substation will be decommissioned.
Once all customers have been switched over, work will begin to remove aged electrical equipment from the outdoor yard of the old substation.
