ActewAGL's role in electricity distribution

ActewAGL owns and manages the electricity networks in the ACT and purchases electricity from powerplants in other states for its customers.

The bulk supply substations at Holt and Fyshwick are connected to several of the national grid's major transmission lines. At the Holt substation (between the Belconnen Tip and the Belconnen Golf Course) the voltage is lowered from 330kV to 132kV by a transformer.

From here ActewAGL distributes the electricity along a network of powerlines to a series of zone substations.

These substations are located in Latham, Belconnen, Ngunnawal, Civic West (eastern slope of Black Mountain), City East (West of Mount Ainslie), Telopea Park, Wanniassa, Woden, Gilmore and Theodore. At these substations the electricity is reduced to 11kV for suburban distribution.

From each zone substations, electricity is distributed to the suburbs to around 3,500 distribution substations. Here the voltage is reduced to 415/240V, which can be used by homes.

Fyshwick is supplied separately, with the Fyshwick zone substation connected to a short 66kV sub-transmission line from the Queanbeyan bulk supply substation.

The 132kV network and parts of the 11kV and 415/240V network are remotely monitored and controlled from ActewAGL's network control centre in Fyshwick.

Because of the important role of this control centre, it has a very reliable electricity supply that includes a back-up generator and many battery powered back-up supplies. In the unlikely event of a blackout, the centre can continue operating in order to restore power to affected areas.

ActewAGL also has service centres in Mitchell and Greenway where field staff are based. From these locations, ActewAGL can send staff to repair the network or carry out routine maintenance and operations.