Pacific Power (Australia)
Encyclopedia
Pacific Power was the state owned monopoly power generator in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. The corporation was formed from the New South Wales Electricity Commission in 1995. It was broken up into TransGrid
, Delta Electricity
, Eraring Energy
and Macquarie Generation in between 1995 and 2003. The consultancy division, Pacific Power International was acquired by Connell Wagner at the same time.
, Australia
. The Commission was established on 22 May 1950 by the Electricity Commission Act 1950 and its role was to take over power generation responsibility from the County Councils (such as the Sydney County Council
) and the railways, who until that time were responsible for power generation and distribution. It acquired the power stations and main transmission lines of the four major supply authorities (Southern Electricity Supply, Sydney County Council
, the Department of Railways
and the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation Ltd, known as the Balmain Company). The commission was responsible for the centralised co-ordination of the states electricity generation and supply.
Between 1950 and 1960 the commission more than trebled power capacity, from 490 megawatts to 1800. At first, this involved completing the expansions of Bunnerong
, White Bay
, Balmain
, and Pyrmont, and completing new stations already designed by the Department of Railways: Tallawarra
near Port Kembla (1954), Wangi
, at Lake Macquarie (1956), and Wallerawang
, near Lithgow (1957).
In the early 1990s, Australian state governments began to deregulate state owned monopoly electricity commissions in order to promote competition, customer choice and potentially cheaper electricity. In 1995, the transmission assets were split off into a new organisation called Transgrid
. In 1996, two new entities were split off - Delta Electricity
and Macquarie Generation. In 2000, the remaining power stations were transferred to a new entity, Eraring Energy
, and the consulting business sold to Connell Wagner.
Pacific Power was then closed in 2003.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The corporation was formed from the New South Wales Electricity Commission in 1995. It was broken up into TransGrid
TransGrid
TransGrid is the owner and operator of the high voltage electricity transmission network in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a state owned corporation, owned by the Government of New South Wales and was established after the break-up of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales...
, Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity is an electricity generation company in Australia. It is fully owned by the Government of New South Wales, and has a portfolio of generating sites mainly using thermal coal power.-Power stations:...
, Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy is an electricity generation company in Australia. It is fully owned by the Government of New South Wales, and has a portfolio of generating sites using thermal coal, wind, and hydroelectric power....
and Macquarie Generation in between 1995 and 2003. The consultancy division, Pacific Power International was acquired by Connell Wagner at the same time.
Electricity Commission of New South Wales
The Electricity Commission of New South Wales, sometimes called Elcom, was a statutory body responsible for the generation of electricity and its bulk transmission throughout New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Commission was established on 22 May 1950 by the Electricity Commission Act 1950 and its role was to take over power generation responsibility from the County Councils (such as the Sydney County Council
Sydney County Council
The Sydney County Council was the authority responsible for electricity supplies in Sydney, Australia. The entity was created in 1936, and was elected and controlled by the municipal councils of Sydney. Between 1936 and 1952, it was responsible for electricity generation and distribution...
) and the railways, who until that time were responsible for power generation and distribution. It acquired the power stations and main transmission lines of the four major supply authorities (Southern Electricity Supply, Sydney County Council
Sydney County Council
The Sydney County Council was the authority responsible for electricity supplies in Sydney, Australia. The entity was created in 1936, and was elected and controlled by the municipal councils of Sydney. Between 1936 and 1952, it was responsible for electricity generation and distribution...
, the Department of Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
and the Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation Ltd, known as the Balmain Company). The commission was responsible for the centralised co-ordination of the states electricity generation and supply.
Between 1950 and 1960 the commission more than trebled power capacity, from 490 megawatts to 1800. At first, this involved completing the expansions of Bunnerong
Bunnerong Power Station, New South Wales
Bunnerong Power Station is a demolished former coal-powered electric power station in the south-eastern Sydney suburb of Matraville, New South Wales, Australia. When the last generating units were commissioned, it was the largest power station in New South Wales, with a capacity of 375 MW. It was...
, White Bay
White Bay Power Station, New South Wales
The White Bay Power Station is a heritage listed former coal-fired power station on a site in White Bay, in the suburb of Rozelle, from Sydney in New South Wales, Australia....
, Balmain
Balmain Power Station, New South Wales
The Balmain Power Station was located at Iron Cove, from Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The station no longer exists and residential properties now occupy the site...
, and Pyrmont, and completing new stations already designed by the Department of Railways: Tallawarra
Tallawarra Power Station, New South Wales
Tallawarra Power Station is a 435 MW combined cycle natural gas power station in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Owned and operated by TRUenergy, the station is the first of its type in New South Wales and produces electricity for the state during periods of high demand...
near Port Kembla (1954), Wangi
Wangi Power Station, New South Wales
Wangi Power Station is located in Wangi Wangi, New South Wales on Lake Macquarie. The power station operated between 1956 and 1986 and supplied New South Wales with electricity.- History :...
, at Lake Macquarie (1956), and Wallerawang
Wallerawang Power Station, New South Wales
Wallerawang Power Station is located near Wallerawang, in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is coal powered with two steam turbines and two 500 MW GEC alternators with a combined generating capacity of 1,000 MW....
, near Lithgow (1957).
Electricity Commission of New South Wales Trading as Pacific Power
The Electricity Commission adopted the trading name Pacific Power in 1992.Pacific Power
The corporation was formed from the New South Wales Electricity Commission in 1995.In the early 1990s, Australian state governments began to deregulate state owned monopoly electricity commissions in order to promote competition, customer choice and potentially cheaper electricity. In 1995, the transmission assets were split off into a new organisation called Transgrid
TransGrid
TransGrid is the owner and operator of the high voltage electricity transmission network in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a state owned corporation, owned by the Government of New South Wales and was established after the break-up of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales...
. In 1996, two new entities were split off - Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity is an electricity generation company in Australia. It is fully owned by the Government of New South Wales, and has a portfolio of generating sites mainly using thermal coal power.-Power stations:...
and Macquarie Generation. In 2000, the remaining power stations were transferred to a new entity, Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy is an electricity generation company in Australia. It is fully owned by the Government of New South Wales, and has a portfolio of generating sites using thermal coal, wind, and hydroelectric power....
, and the consulting business sold to Connell Wagner.
Pacific Power was then closed in 2003.