Milton to Halswell 66kV underground power cable

We’re planning for the future and investing now to create a strong electricity network and power a brighter future with our community.

In 2025, we'll be installing a new underground 66kV power cable from the Milton Street Substation, through Hoon Hay, to the Halswell Substation.

We are currently in the planning stage of how we best deliver this project. We have now completed investigation work along the cable route to check for underground services that need to be considered in our planning.

The information we gather in the investigation phase will be used to help determine how we best delivery this project next year.


Why are we doing this work?

A secure and resilient power supply is essential to how we live, work and play. So we’re strengthening our electricity network so it’s ready for the future.

We have a programme of work to replace older power cables in Christchurch. New cables mean the electricity network will be stronger and we’ll be able to restore power quicker. The new cables are the latest technology and are sized for the growing demand for power.

Some of our underground cables in Christchurch City are 40-60 years old. These older cables are still working, and will continue to do so under normal conditions. However, they are vulnerable to earthquakes and should we have another large earthquake, there is the potential for faults on these cables. Given the age of the cables they are difficult to repair, and after a significant shake these cables could take some time to fix.

This new power cable will help create a new ring circuit in Christchurch City. These ring circuits have two purposes:

  • They allow us to shift power around the network. This means that if there is a fault on the network we can re-route the power to keep customers on.
  • Once the new cables and circuits are in place we can progressively retire the old cables as the power will be supplied via the new circuits.

As part of this programme of work, in 2025 we’ll be starting work to install a new underground 66kV power cable from Milton Street Substation to the Halswell Substation on Sparks Road. In June 2024 we completed the installation of the first of these underground cables from the Bromley Substation to the Milton Substation.


How will the cable be installed?

The construction methodology we will use to install the cable will be determined by the information we gather during this investigation phase.

We do know that we will install the cable by working in zones to minimise disruption to the community. Each zone could be up to 800m in length. Once we've installed the cable, we connect it to the other zones using joint bays.


Stay up to date

We'll keep this page up to date with the latest information on this project and how it's progressing.

We want to work with the community to minimise the disruption of this work. If you have any questions about this work, you can reach us at haveyoursay@oriongroup.co.nz or anytime day or night through our Customer Support team on 0800 363 9898.

We’re planning for the future and investing now to create a strong electricity network and power a brighter future with our community.

In 2025, we'll be installing a new underground 66kV power cable from the Milton Street Substation, through Hoon Hay, to the Halswell Substation.

We are currently in the planning stage of how we best deliver this project. We have now completed investigation work along the cable route to check for underground services that need to be considered in our planning.

The information we gather in the investigation phase will be used to help determine how we best delivery this project next year.


Why are we doing this work?

A secure and resilient power supply is essential to how we live, work and play. So we’re strengthening our electricity network so it’s ready for the future.

We have a programme of work to replace older power cables in Christchurch. New cables mean the electricity network will be stronger and we’ll be able to restore power quicker. The new cables are the latest technology and are sized for the growing demand for power.

Some of our underground cables in Christchurch City are 40-60 years old. These older cables are still working, and will continue to do so under normal conditions. However, they are vulnerable to earthquakes and should we have another large earthquake, there is the potential for faults on these cables. Given the age of the cables they are difficult to repair, and after a significant shake these cables could take some time to fix.

This new power cable will help create a new ring circuit in Christchurch City. These ring circuits have two purposes:

  • They allow us to shift power around the network. This means that if there is a fault on the network we can re-route the power to keep customers on.
  • Once the new cables and circuits are in place we can progressively retire the old cables as the power will be supplied via the new circuits.

As part of this programme of work, in 2025 we’ll be starting work to install a new underground 66kV power cable from Milton Street Substation to the Halswell Substation on Sparks Road. In June 2024 we completed the installation of the first of these underground cables from the Bromley Substation to the Milton Substation.


How will the cable be installed?

The construction methodology we will use to install the cable will be determined by the information we gather during this investigation phase.

We do know that we will install the cable by working in zones to minimise disruption to the community. Each zone could be up to 800m in length. Once we've installed the cable, we connect it to the other zones using joint bays.


Stay up to date

We'll keep this page up to date with the latest information on this project and how it's progressing.

We want to work with the community to minimise the disruption of this work. If you have any questions about this work, you can reach us at haveyoursay@oriongroup.co.nz or anytime day or night through our Customer Support team on 0800 363 9898.

Page last updated: 22 Nov 2024, 10:34 AM