Comments on: “This power pole belongs to” https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/ Marcus Wong. Gunzel. Engineering geek. History nerd. Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:24:44 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 By: Jesse https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-939396 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:24:44 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-939396 In reply to Liam.

The railways. Metro Trains Melbourne.

]]> By: Liam https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-900882 Sun, 17 Dec 2023 07:52:44 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-900882 In reply to Simon.

Reminds me the rail substation at Alphington, has a “Do Not Operate” tag on the transformer. It would appear to suggest the tap changing mechanism failed. By the look of the tag, it wasn’t recent. Anyone know who is responsible for those traction power substations?

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-864380 Mon, 27 Feb 2023 03:26:38 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-864380 In reply to Simon.

Thanks for that – the 6.6kV network seems to be on the way out slowly.

Jemena replaced their 6.6kV system with 22kV around Preston a few years ago:

https://utilitymagazine.com.au/future-proofing-the-network-with-smart-substations/

And CitiPower uses 6.6kV around Port Melbourne, CBD, North Melbourne, Brunswick and Fitzroy, red by a 22kV sub-transmission network.

https://media.powercor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/22153349/Final-CitiPower-Distribution-Annual-Planning-Report-2019.pdf

They’ve moved to 11kV with 66kV sub-transmission in Brunswick and the CBD so far:

https://www.citipower.com.au/network-planning-and-projects/major-projects/brunswick-network-upgrade-project/
https://www.citipower.com.au/network-planning-and-projects/major-projects/waratah-place-project/

]]> By: Simon https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-863629 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 08:33:01 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-863629 Hey Marcus interesting topic here… there are more oddities around also if you go looking. For example, Fairfield (FF) zone substation is a Jemena zone sub, yet supplies 3 (or so) CitiPower feeders in the Fairfield, Thornbury area- some even at ancient(ish) voltages such as 6.6kV! You can see why when you see the mess of the boundaries in this area between CitiPower and Jemena. Other interesting issues (to some maybe) is that in some locations towards the edge of what area FF supplies and what the neighbouring zone subs supply there are locations that have 6.6kV and 11kV as the top conductor on the same pole, both terminated on the same pole from either direction

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-863237 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 02:20:35 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-863237 In reply to Rod.

I’ve seen some speculation that the new “SEC” will also act as an electricity retailer to consumers, but they’d still be limited in what they can do, given a nationalisation of the electricity distributors isn’t on the cards.

]]> By: Rod https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-863103 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 23:27:55 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-863103 In reply to Andrew.

The state government owns pretty much nothing with regards to electricity in Victoria. The current Labor government has plans to create a new “SEC” but this will be an electricity generation provider, creating electricity from renewables (solar and wind I believe). Nothing much like the old SEC as may have been portrayed in pre-election advertising.

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-862617 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 04:20:18 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-862617 In reply to Andrew.

It appears to be outright owned.

https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/about-energy/about-the-electricity-sector

Compare this to the privatised transport transport system, where the government still owns everything.

]]> By: Andrew https://wongm.com/2023/02/this-power-pole-belongs-to-signage-melbourne-victoria/#comment-862508 Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:01:15 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=20837#comment-862508 Is that literally correct that United Energy owns the power poles, or does the state government? I am open to argument about about private companies operating essential service and maintaining assets they use. I really don’t like private companies owning essential infrastructure.

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