Powerlink Queensland
 | |
| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Predecessor | Queensland Electricity Commission |
| Founded | 1995  |
| Headquarters | 33 Harold Street, Virginia, Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Queensland |
Key people |
|
| Services | Electricity transmission |
| $403.1m (2018/19) | |
| $114.0m (2018/19)[1] | |
| Owner | Government of Queensland |
| Website | Official website |
Powerlink Queensland (formally Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation Limited) is an electricity transmission system operator owned by the Government of Queensland which operates the high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure in Queensland.
History
Powerlink Queensland was created in 1995 after the corporatisation and restructure of the vertically integrated Queensland power industry.[2] It was established under the Government Owned Corporation Act 1993 and is a registered public company under the Corporations Act 2001.
Operations
Powerlink is a transmission network service provider within the National Electricity Market (NEM). It does not buy or sell electricity; instead it transports it between participants within the NEM. Powerlink is a regulated monopoly business, with revenues set by the Australian Energy Regulator.[3]
The transmission network, operated by Powerlink Queensland, extends 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) from north of Cairns to the New South Wales border, and comprises 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi) of transmission lines and 139 substations.
Its network connects to New South Wales via the Queensland – New South Wales Interconnector (QNI). It also has a DC connection to NSW via the smaller Terranora interconnector. Powerlink is a member of Grid Australia which represents the owners of Australia's electricity transmission networks in the National Electricity Market and Western Australia.[4] It has been appointed by the Queensland State Government as the jurisdictional planning body for Queensland to assess the capability of Queensland's transmission network to meet forecast electricity load growth.[3]
Powerlink has adopted live high voltage substation maintenance practices[5] on voltages up to 330 kV and is currently the only transmission utility in Australia to use these techniques.[6] Its laboratory provides specialist testing and diagnostic services.[7]
References
- ^ a b Powerlink Queensland Annual Report and Financial Statements 2018/19 (Report). Brisbane, Australia: Powerlink Queensland. 2019. p. 2. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Powerlink Queensland". Transmission & Distribution World. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ a b "The National Electricity Market". Powerlink Queensland. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "The National Electricity Market". Grid Australia. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "Technology". Powerlink Annual Report 2001/02 (Report). Brisbane, Australia: Powerlink Queensland. 2002. p. 28. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ "'Live' substation work completed at Calvale and Stanwell substations" (Press release). Powerlink Queensland. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Oil and insulation testing". Powerlink Queensland. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.