As part of the budget, state power company Country Energy has secured a budget of $713 million.
Country Energy manages Australia’s largest power supply network across 95 per cent of New South Wales, with approximately
4,200 employees serving around
800,000 customers.
The company owns approximately
1,200 kilometres of distribution and transmission gas pipelines and plans to spend approximately $2.2 million next year to operate and maintain these networks.
Country Energy has also said that it will invest more than $4 million in the coming year to upgrade the system and connect new customers.
The New South Wales Budget for 2009-10 also includes $43.4 million to be spent by Delta Electricity to complete construction and commissioning of the Colongra Gas Turbine at Munmorah.
This $500 million project will provide extra power for use during peak periods. The natural gas to fuel the turbines will be supplied via a new underground pipeline connecting to the existing Sydney to Newcastle pipeline. From there, the gas will be distributed to households and businesses throughout the state.
The Energy Network Association (ENA) has welcomed the New South Wales Government’s investment in the state’s energy networks.
“Given the fact that the life expectancy of network-related infrastructure is around 30 or more years, there is an urgent need to invest in infrastructure that will enable electricity and gas distribution businesses to maintain the services expected of them in the future,”? said ENA CEO Andrew Blyth.
“Not only do electricity and gas network businesses underpin Australia’s
$1.1 trillion digital economy, they are also intrinsically linked to the challenges, opportunities and solutions regarding climate change.”?
ENA also play the Government’s recognition of the significant role energy networks provide in delivering local employment opportunities. Australia’s electricity and gas supply industry employs more than 40,000 people and contributes approximately 1.25 per cent to Australia’s gross domestic product.
State Energy Minister Ian Macdonald said energy accounts for 19.4 per cent of the state’s total infrastructure budget and will provide more than 12,000 jobs in 2009-10.