Further consultation on our short-list for upper South Island upgrades

In February 2025 we concluded consultation on an initial short-list of investment options to ensure a reliable power supply for the upper South Island (from Twizel north).

Since then, we have undertaken further revision of our cost estimates, incorporating a more detailed understanding of the activities, resources and scope of work required. All cost estimates for short-listed options have increased, driven by requirements for transmission line upgrades which have proven more complex than we anticipated.  

Our preferred option has increased to approximately $164 million, compared to the $77 million presented in our short-list consultation. 

We have also continued to review our assumptions used in our benefit modelling, and a more accurate representation of constraints has led to greater benefits than initially estimated. Under the Transmission Pricing Methodology, this led to a change in the allocation of costs. 

The need and requirement for investment has not changed and remains essential to ensure voltage stability can be maintained in the upper South Island as electricity use increases further. 

Further public consultation took place from April - May 2025 on the short-list of preferred options. Our consultation information included an overview document and five attached documents, each of which focused on a specific aspect of our consultation.

Documents for further consultation:

Consultation responses

Thank you to those who made submissions.

Please see the USI summary of submissions for a summary of the key points raised and Transpower's responses. Individual submissions on the short-list options are published below:

 What is the timeframe from here?  

Our plan remains to prepare and submit our upper South Island MCP to the Commerce Commission later in 2025. 

Previous documents