Transmission line developments up to 150 kV in eastern Australia

Australian utilities have, over the past twenty years, experienced increasing difficulty in corridor acquisition for power transmission lines. The growth in load density has also required utilities to reinforce supply at higher transmission voltages. These pressures have forced utilities to consider the installation of transmission lines in road reserves, with circuits at voltages up to 150 kV being required in these corridors. The author summarises developments in line design for this voltage range in eastern Australia, and outlines methods developed for increasing capacity by line uprating. The reduction of visual impact is an essential element in urban line design, and the design responses to environmental pressures are also considered