Omakau’s zone substation upgrade is due to be completed before winter.

The upgrade aims to future proof the network and strengthen the electricity supply for customers.

In May 2022 a new diesel generator was installed at the new substation site, next to the stockyards on Lauder-Omakau Rd (SH85) and was commissioned in November 2022.

A project overview on the Aurora Energy website states the generator has been used during planned outages, to supply customers without power, noting it was used in December 2022, just one month after it was commissioned.

However, an Aurora Energy spokesperson said the generator could not be used for every unplanned outage due to the delicate balance required to manage load fluctuations in real time.

A recent spate of unplanned power outages have proved this, including on February 2 when there was a seven hour long power cut. 

The substation upgrade at Omakau is due to be completed before winter. PHOTO: The Central App

However, Aurora Energy’s project overview states the upgrade will not only replace ageing equipment, but will also double the capacity of the substation, ensuring it is adequate to meet the demand growth of the community.

Omakau zone substation supplies power to 690 customers in the area, with a network of 244km.

Aurora Energy is also in the process of implementing a new technology trial on the line from Alexandra to Omakau to detect emerging faults in real time, thereby enabling defect remediation prior to it causing an outage.

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