Australian utility Energex has announced the completion of a A$820,000 upgrade of the electrical network in the northern Gold Coast area that it claims will benefit homes and businesses in the Coomera, Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island areas.
The upgrade included the installation of 1.3 kilometers of new underground power cables between Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove and Coomera Waters.
The works included establishing a new 11kV power cable under the Coomera River, as well as some associated network upgrades in the local area, which are expected to be completed shortly. The new cables are expected to provide increased capacity in the local power network, as well as catering for current and future growth in the Coomera-Hope Island area.
The company said that the project provides its technicians with more switching options to restore power faster after unexpected damage to the network. The Gold Coast is one of the company’s fastest growth areas and in the past three years the company has spent more than A$330 million upgrading the region’s electricity network.
The project is part of a record A$4 billion five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by the utility. In the 2007 to 2008 financial year, Energex is investing A$827 million on upgrades to its electricity network, while a further A$306 million has been set aside to maintain and operate the network.