TransGrid

Last updated

Transgrid
Predecessor Electricity Commission of New South Wales
Founded1 February 1995 (1995-02-01)
Headquarters,
Australia
Area served
New South Wales
Services Electric power transmission
Owners
Website www.transgrid.com.au

Transgrid is the manager and operator of the high voltage electricity transmission network in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia, and is part of the National Electricity Market (NEM). The company's offices are located in Sydney, Newcastle, Orange, Tamworth, Wagga, and Yass. [1]

Contents

History

Transgrid began as the trading name of the Electricity Transmission Authority which was established on 1 February 1995 as a statutory authority under the Electricity Transmission Authority Act 1994, as part of the break-up of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales. [2] The Authority was corporatised in December 1998, by the Energy Services Corporations Amendment (Transgrid Corporatisation) Act 1998, and Transgrid became the actual name of the corporation. [3]

In December 2015, a consortium called NSW Electricity Networks was the successful bidder for a 99-year lease of Transgrid's transmission network [4] for $10.3 billion. [5] The consortium consists of two Australian entities–Spark Infrastructure (15%), the Utilities Trust of Australia fund (20%)– together with the Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (25%) and two Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds–the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (20%) and the Kuwait Investment Authority (20%). [5] State Grid Corporation of China was one of the other bidders, in a consortium with Macquarie Infrastructure Real Assets. State Grid's bid was cleared by the Foreign Investment Review Board but was eventually unsuccessful, [6] possibly because of its government and military connections. [5]

In 2018, Transgrid was among 17 energy businesses that supported the launch of the Energy Charter, a global initiative aimed at bringing together all parts of the power supply chain to give customers more affordable and reliable energy. [7]

In 2020, OMERS acquired a 19.99% stake in Transgrid from Wren House Infrastructure Management, which is part of the state-owned Kuwait Investment Authority. [8]

As of 2022, the current owners [9] are:

Network

Transgrid operates the major high voltage electricity transmission network in NSW and the ACT, and is part of the National Electricity Market (NEM). The network connects generators, distributors and major end users. Transgrid's network comprises 104 bulk supply substations and more than 13,133 kilometres of high voltage transmission lines and cables. The network operates primarily at voltage levels of 500 kV, 330 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV.

Transgrid's network also connects to 20 direct connect customers, including the four distribution businesses: Endeavour Energy, Ausgrid, Evoenergy, and Essential Energy.

Transgrid participates in the Australian Energy Regulator's (AER) revenue proposal process, where submissions of the transmission network service providers (TNSP), the AER and other interested parties are used to set the maximum allowable revenue (MAR) for the TNSPs for a five-year period.

Transgrid Telecommunications

With more than 15 years’ experience Transgrid Telecommunications manages an extensive fibre optic network covering in excess of 4000 km across NSW, the ACT and Victoria.

Transgrid's Telecommunications network is one of the largest optical fibre network in Australia, with the majority of the network's Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) strung above the electricity transmission network. [10]

Key Executives [11]

Brett Redman – Chief Executive Officer [12]

Nadine Lennie – Chief Financial Officer

Brian Salter – Executive General Manager - Lumea (Acting)

Craig Stallan - Executive Manager Works Delivery

Marie Jordan – Executive General Manager - Network

Gordon Taylor – Executive General Manager - Major Projects

Maryanne Graham – Executive General Manager - Corporate & Stakeholder Affairs

Jane Sherlock – Executive General Manager - People, Culture & Safety

Michael Drew – Executive General Manager - Legal, Governance & Risk

[13]

Related Research Articles

The National Electricity Market (NEM) is an arrangement in Australia's electricity sector for the connection of the electricity transmission grids of the eastern and southern Australia states and territories to create a cross-state wholesale electricity market. The Australian Energy Market Commission develops and maintains the Australian National Electricity Rules (NER), which have the force of law in the states and territories participating in NEM. The Rules are enforced by the Australian Energy Regulator. The day-to-day management of NEM is performed by the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Murraylink is an Australian high voltage direct current electricity transmission link between Berri in South Australia and Red Cliffs in Victoria, connecting the two state electricity grids. Murraylink was commissioned in 2002 and is believed to be the world's longest underground transmission system and cost more than A$177 million. It was built by TransEnergie Australia, a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec. It was sold to the Australian Pipeline Trust in March 2006 for A$153 million. In December 2008 ownership of Murraylink was transferred to the newly formed Energy Infrastructure Investments Group, while APA continued as the operator. The ownership of EII is APA with 19.9%, with the balance with Japan-based Marubeni Corporation with 49.9% and Osaka Gas with 30.2%.

Directlink (Terranora)Interconnector is a mixed buried and above ground 59 kilometre (37 mi) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity transmission cable route from near Lavertys Gap (28°34′15″S153°27′8″E), 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) Southwest of Mullumbimby, New South Wales and Bungalora (28°15′20″S153°28′20″E) & connected via a 3.5km (2.2mi) AC Overhead Transmission Line to the NorthEast to the Terranora Electrical Substation (28°14′28.3″S153°30′12.7″E) @ Terranora, New South Wales New South Wales in Eastern Australia. The DC cables alternate between above ground in a galvanised steel trough and below ground with depths up to 1m.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is engaged mainly in transmission of bulk power across different states of India. It is headquartered in Gurugram. Power Grid transmits about 50% of the total power generated in India on its transmission network.

National Grid plc is a British multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, England. Its principal activities are in the United Kingdom, where it owns and operates electricity and natural gas transmission networks, and in the Northeastern United States, where as well as operating transmission networks, the company produces and supplies electricity and gas, providing both to customers in New York and Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integral Energy</span>

Integral Energy was the second largest state-owned energy corporation in New South Wales, incorporated under the Energy Services Corporations Act 1995 from a merger between Prospect Electricity and Illawarra Electricity. Integral Energy was involved in electricity retail in addition to owning an electricity distribution network and previously held licences to retail electricity in the contestable markets covered by the NEM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SA Power Networks</span> Privately-owned principal elecricity distributor in South Australia

SA Power Networks is the principle electricity distributor in the state of South Australia, delivering electricity from high voltage transmission network connection points operated by ElectraNet. It is the successor to the Electricity Trust of South Australia.

Project EnergyConnect is a new electricity transmission line under construction which will connect the South Australia and New South Wales districts of the National Electricity Market in Australia. Riverlink was a previous working title for the project, drawn from a proposal first raised in 1999. The Australian Energy Market Operator used RiverLink in its proposal for this interconnector, but the transmission companies in South Australia (ElectraNet) and New South Wales (TransGrid) now call it EnergyConnect.

Spark Infrastructure Group is an Australian investment fund which owns and manages a portfolio of electricity infrastructure assets.

Gavan McDonell is an Australian civil engineer, economist and political sociologist in the fields of national infrastructure policy reform, international development and academic education for advanced sustainability studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity Commission of New South Wales</span>

The Electricity Commission of New South Wales, sometimes called Elcom, was a statutory authority responsible for electricity generation and its bulk transmission throughout New South Wales, Australia. The commission was established on 22 May 1950 by the Electricity Commission Act 1950 to take control of power generation in the State. The commission acquired the power stations and main transmission lines of the four major supply authorities: Southern Electricity Supply, Sydney County Council, the Department of Railways and the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation Ltd, also known as the Balmain Electric Light Company, the owner and operator of Balmain Power Station. The commission was responsible for the centralised co-ordination of electricity generation and transmission in the State, and some local councils continued to be distributors of electricity only.

Pacific Power was the state owned monopoly power generator in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The corporation was formed from the New South Wales Electricity Commission in 1995. It was broken up into TransGrid, Delta Electricity, Eraring Energy and Macquarie Generation in between 1995 and 2003. The consultancy division, Pacific Power International was acquired by Connell Wagner at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AusNet Services</span> Australian energy company

AusNet Services is an Australian energy delivery services business, owning and operating more than $11 billion of electricity and gas network assets. It is a privately held, and was formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX). AusNet is currently owned by Australian Energy Holdings No 4 Pty Limited, a company controlled by Brookfield Asset Management. The co-investors include pension funds in Australia and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemena</span>

SGSP (Australia) Assets Pty Ltd (SGSPAA), trading as Jemena, is an Australian company that owns, manages or operates energy infrastructure assets in the eastern states of Australia including Queensland and New South Wales, and gas pipelines and gas and electricity distribution networks in Victoria and the Northern Territory. It is 60% owned by State Grid Corporation of China and 40% by Singapore Power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ausgrid</span> State owned electricity infrastructure company

Ausgrid is an electricity distribution company which owns, maintains and operates the electrical networks supplying 1.8 million customers servicing more than 4 million people in Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter regions of New South Wales, Australia. It was formed in 2011 from the previously state-owned energy retailer/distributor, EnergyAustralia, when the retail division of the company, along with the EnergyAustralia brand, was sold by the Government of New South Wales, and the remainder renamed Ausgrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powerlink Queensland</span>

Powerlink Queensland is an electricity transmission system operator owned by the Government of Queensland which operates the high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure in Queensland.

Energy Networks Australia is the national industry body representing Australia’s electricity transmission and distribution and gas distribution networks. Energy Network Australia members provide more than 16 million electricity and gas connections to almost every home and business across Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Australia</span>

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Marinus Link is a proposed 750 megawatt capacity high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnector, to strengthen the connection between the Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria, on Australia's National Electricity Market. Due to inflation, Marinus link was scaled back from an initial plan of 1500 MW via two cables, down to 750 MW via one cable. It involves approximately 250 km of subsea cables and approximately 90 km of underground land cables. Marinus Link will also incorporate significant optical fibre capacity for system control, with the remaining capacity available to strengthen telecommunications and data connectivity between the regions. Marinus Link will be supported by approximately 220 km of high voltage alternating current (HVAC) of proposed transmission developments in North West Tasmania, known as the North West Transmission Developments (NWTD). Collectively, Marinus Link and the North West Transmission Developments are known as Project Marinus. In October 2022, authorities pledged loans for the project, as well as supporting facilities such as pumped hydro in Tasmania.

References

  1. "Contact Us". www.transgrid.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  2. "Transgrid". NSW Treasury. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  3. "Publication Guide Dec 20, 2010" (PDF). Transgrid. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  4. "Welcoming our new owners". www.transgrid.com.au. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "$10.3 billion NSW power sale a good deal for the Baird government". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2015.
  6. The State Grid Corporation of China: Its Australian engagement and military links
  7. "AGL, Energy Australia, Origin join charter to cut power prices". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. "Transgrid welcomes Omers to its ownership group". www.transgrid.com.au. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  9. https://www.transgrid.com.au/media/dn5oq3j3/modern-slavery-statement.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  10. "Transgrid Telecommunications". www.transgrid.com.au. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  11. "Leadership". Transgrid. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  12. "Brett Redman appointed as Transgrid Chief Executive Officer". Transgrid. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  13. https://www.transgrid.com.au/about-us/leadership