Brief HistoryAfter starting life as a privately owned generator based in Ashburton, the Ashburton Electric Power Board (AEPB) was established in 1923. After that time the AEPB grew through a variety of operating voltages which included 230 volts dc, 3.3kV, 6.6kV, 11kV, and latterly, 33kV ac During the 1970‘s irrigation demand caused growth to accelerate dramatically, expanding the 33kV sub-transmission network to all corners of the Ashburton District. A small hydro generator, Montalto, was also built during the early 1980‘s. Electricity Ashburton Limited (as the AEPB became) has more recently introduced 22kV and 66kV as voltages on the network. A large capital works programme during the late 1990‘s and the early part of this century now has the majority of sub-transmission lines operating at 66kV and a significant portion of the distribution network operating at 22kV. Electricity Ashburton supplies electricity line services to approximately 17,450 consumers using almost 3,000km of lines in Mid-Canterbury - both underground cables and overhead lines. During 2008 Electricity Ashburton began developing a fibre optic network. The principle purpose of this network was to establish robust communication links between the electricity network zone sub-stations. The board took the decision to expand the capacity of this network to allow residents and businesses on the fibre network route to connect to the network, allowing access to ultra-fast broadband and other services. In December 2009, after on-going discussions between the two, Electricity Ashburton formalised a joint venture agreement with Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation (BCI). The joint venture would invest in and build irrigation infrastructure to allow irrigation to approximately 13,300 hectares of farmland in Mid-Canterbury. |
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