Electricity Distribution Network - Low Voltage Visibility Solution

Details

As an electricity network distribution company, Aurora Energy are responsible for maintaining and managing distribution network including the low voltage (LV) network through-out Dunedin, Central Otago, Wānaka, Queenstown and surrounding areas to ensure electricity supply is reliable, and voltage and frequency meets the supply quality standards set out in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010.

Improving visibility of the low voltage (LV network) is critical to Aurora Energy because:
- the low voltage network transports electricity to almost all electricity customers.
- it comprises a significant portion of Aurora Energy’s network assets.
- proximity to customers and the general public makes management an important part of safety systems.
- LV networks are progressively needing to adapt to integrate a variety of high load consumer technologies, and host increased DER (distributed energy resources) penetration.

Monitoring at the LV level has the potential to provide Aurora Energy with data that can identify issues and assist with planning, design, and improved control of the LV network.
While Aurora Energy has visibility of the high voltage and medium voltage networks, Aurora Energy does not have the same level of visibility over the low voltage network.
In January 2020, Aurora Energy developed its Network Evolution Plan, aim at preparing Aurora Energy for a future where electricity plays a key role in decarbonising economies worldwide, including New Zealand, and in the Aurora Energy network.
In March 2022, Aurora Energy developed Decarbonisation Scenarios to consider a range of futures with increased electrification to understand the impact locally to its network.