- TransGrid
TransGrid is the owner and operator of the high voltage electricity transmission network in the Australian state of
New South Wales . It is a state owned corporation, owned by the Government of New South Wales and was established after the breakup of theElectricity Commission of New South Wales into power generation and distribution units in preparation for the national electricity market. [cite web|work=NSW Treasury| title=TransGrid|url=http://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/pubs/trp98_1/trangrid.htm| accessdate=23 September| accessyear=2007]TransGrid’s network stretches along the east coast of Australia from Queensland to Victoria, then inland to Broken Hill, making it the backbone of the Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM). It connects major generation sources in NSW's Central Coast, the Hunter Valley, Lithgow area and Snowy Mountains, and is interconnected with the Victorian and Queensland networks. TransGrid’s network also connects to 4 distribution businesses and 3 directly connected industrial customers.
TransGrid operates 12489 circuit km of transmission lines and cables, with nominalvoltages of 500 kV, 330 kV, 220 kV, 132 kV and 66 kV. Further, it operates andmaintains 82 substations which include 202 transformers comprising of 32,970 MVAof installed capacity throughout New South Wales.
The New South Wales transmission network facilitates inter-state electricity tradingand plays a central in the NEM as a result of both its geographic location and theflexible generation plants located in New South Wales. At times of high demand,Queensland and Victoria can rely on imports from New South Wales, and exportpower to New South Wales at other times.
References
TNSP Electricity Regulatory Report 2006/07 - Australian Energy Regulator.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
