By Olivia Condous
Melton residents will benefit from upgrades to the local electricity network in the area that will create better capacity for new technology and infrastructure, while strengthening the electricity supply.
Powercor is undertaking a major electricity upgrade for Melton and the surrounding region to accommodate for the growing population in the west.
The number of customers serviced by the Powercor Melton Zone Substation has grown from 26,000 to 35,000 in the last four years and created a higher demand for electricity.
According to Powercor, the improved electricity supply will also provide new opportunities for technology such as electric vehicles as well as new shopping centres, housing estates and business developments.
Powercor will install a new high voltage ‘feeder’ or powerline from the Zone Substation out to residents as part of the Melton Network upgrade in order to increase the capacity of the network.
The Zone Substation in Graham Street will be upgraded and new overhead powerlines and underground power cables will be installed.
The works will take place on Graham Street, Tullidge Street, Holland Drive, Collins Road, High Street and Mount Cottrell Road in Melton, as well as along parts of the Western Freeway down to Leakes Road in Aintree.
Temporary planned power outages will occur for some residents so works can be completed safely.
Powercor head of network planning Andrew Dinning said the upgrade was important for the region.
“These works will increase capacity to help meet the near-term growth in Melton and the surrounding region, while also paving the way for greater electrification of transport and heating in the future,” Mr Dinning said.
“When complete, the upgrade will further increase interconnection of our customers improving network resilience for faults and outages and better enabling the use of residential solar at a local level.”
