Essential Energy has delivered our first brand new zone substation in ten years on the network, in South Jerrabomberra. Energised in February 2025, the substation will power one of the regions fastest-growing precincts, supporting residential, commercial and industrial development. 

The milestone project was funded by a unique collaboration of six customers, including the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, who came together to solve the challenge of meeting a rising electricity demand in a rapidly urbanising area. Their collaboration enabled the construction of a new substation, tailored to the needs of a growing urban community.

The location of the project posed some unique challenges. The project was based in an increasingly densely populated urban area and its proximity to Canberra Airport required special airspace approval. The site literally sits on the border of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, meaning the team had to navigate the two different requirements for each state.  

Land access, environmental impact assessments and community engagement all required a bespoke approach, led by Essential Energy’s Environmental and Community teams. An open and collaborative approach was taken to facilitate engagement. This included face-to-face meetings with local residents to enable a thorough evaluation of all route options and the opportunity for them to voice their preferences.  Our commitment was to ensure the community felt heard, respected and informed throughout the process.

To suit its urban surroundings, the project called for architectural and urban design features to be incorporated. The result is an indoor Gas-Insulated Switchgear facility with an architecturally-designed exterior and colour palette chosen to suit the surroundings. These design considerations are now being embedded into future projects, reflecting a shift in how we build infrastructure in urban environments.

Despite the challenges and a complex delivery environment, the project was completed on time and to a high standard. The energisation date of 28 February was met thanks to strong collaboration across Commercial, Major Projects, Transmission Services, Operations, Engineering and support teams.

Importantly, the project has helped shape how Essential Energy delivers infrastructure in the future. A business-wide lessons learnt exercise involved 50 participants and identified 200 insights and is now being embedded into current and upcoming projects. The review has been widely recognised as a gold standard for continuous improvement.

According to Nick McMullen, Major Projects Director at Essential Energy, the experience has reshaped how the organisation approaches complex builds.

“South Jerrabomberra challenged us to think differently across all aspects of the project, from stakeholder engagement to design. It’s the first time we’ve had to incorporate architectural features into a substation, and now we’re applying those learnings to future builds. It’s a great example of how we’re evolving to meet the needs of modern communities,” Nick says.

The successful delivery of South Jerrabomberra reflects Essential Energy’s commitment to enabling energy solutions that improve life for our communities across regional, rural and remote New South Wales.