Underground Cable Replacement

Ausgrid cable replacement project

Ausgrid is replacing the existing underground low voltage electricity cables in the Sydney area. These cables are reaching the end of their serviceable life and will be replaced progressively, as part of our capital works program, to allow Ausgrid to maintain a safe and reliable electricity network.

Consulting with the community

Ausgrid will discuss the program of work with each local Council prior to work starting in the local government area.

Following these discussions, Ausgrid will provide a notification to local residents, businesses and key stakeholders about the work. The project team will be available to discuss how we are planning to do the work and the likely construction impacts in their local area.

Scope of work

Ausgrid has already begun work to upgrade the existing underground low voltage electricity cables in some areas. Work will continue on the remaining 850 kilometres of underground low voltage electricity cables over the coming few years.

Work currently underway

Ausgrid will start work in Bangor and Menai in January 2019, with work in Illawong to follow later. Residents will be notified before work starts. For more information on the work see attached newsletters for each suburb.   

• Bangor
• Illawong
• Menai 

How will we do the work?

Temporary impacts

Work will involve digging a trench in sections along the road reserve and installing new conduits which the cables will run through. We will then backfill the trench and a temporary surface will be laid, with permanent restoration to occur in consultation with the local council.

New electrical pillars will be installed in conjunction with cable installation works. The old pillars will be removed once all customers are transferred onto the new cables.

During this work:

• Street parking and some footpaths around the work zone may be restricted.
• There will be some noise and dust, however we will make every effort to keep this to a minimum and will try to finish the work as quickly as possible.
• Traffic control will be in place to maintain the safety of both workers and the community.
• Some equipment may be stored on footpaths and nature strips for a few days ahead of installation.
• Decorative driveways will be under-bored, where possible
• Non-decorative driveways will be neatly trenched and then restored in keeping with the existing surface.

We will provide you with more information before this work starts.

Connecting you to the new cables

When all the replacement cables are installed, we will commence works to connect the new cables and decommission the redundant network.

This work will involve interruptions to your power supply to allow the work to be completed safely. Ausgrid will provide notification of planned interruptions to your power supply in accordance with the National Energy Customer Framework. 

Work hours

Work will be undertaken between 7 am and 6 pm Mondays to Fridays, and 8 am and 1 pm on Saturdays.

We may need to do work at night in some locations to avoid major traffic disruptions during the day. We will notify nearby properties before this work happens.

Managing impacts

There will be some temporary impacts for residents and businesses. This may include noise, traffic and parking disruptions. We will make every effort to minimise these impacts.

Our contractors will implement appropriate traffic management to ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians around the work areas.

Sections of the parking lane will need to be closed where the crews are working, but these will be opened up again as they move along the street.

Access to driveways will generally be maintained, unless we make alternative arrangements with you in advance.