NEW key projects from AusNet are now underway, helping to upgrade the network in the state’s north.
The upgrades are designed to grow capacity, improve customer reliability, and support growth in the region.
In the Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire council areas, $18 million will be poured in for a new zone substation, which will provide extra capacity for Kilmore and Wallan. As a result, more customers will be able to connect, while existing customers will have improved reliability.
The Mitchell Shire will also receive $8 million in funding over two years, which will go towards upgrading insulated conductors in high bushfire prone areas.
The funding is part of AusNet’s commitment to invest $3.5 billion to upgrade the distribution network from 2026 to 2031.
A proposal was recently submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator, in which approval would fund customer and community needs to support reliability, safety, and electrification.
Their $3.5 billion outlay would be made up of $1.35 billion to replace ageing assets, $770 million to increase network capacity for customer growth, $430 million to increase problem area reliability, $430 million to improve digital systems, and $240 million to help integrate rooftop solar and large-scale wind and solar generators.
