Managing the Risk of Protection Relay Failure

ElectraNet has identified that the targeted replacement of around 380 protection relays and components across the South Australian electricity transmission network over the next four years is the most efficient solution to manage the overall fleet of protection relays across the network.

On 31 July ElectraNet published a Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) under the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T), which is the first step in the RIT-T process, as required by the National Electricity Rules clause 5.16. The report identified that there is only one technically and economically feasible option which is to replace the identified protection relays on the network.

The protection relays that are being replaced are in the following substations:

Metropolitan: Angas Creek, East Terrace, Happy Valley, Kilburn, Morphett Vale East, Mount Baker, Northfield, Parafield Gardens West and Templers.

Regional: Berri, Brinkworth, Davenport, Hummocks, Kincraig, North West Bend, Pimba, Port Lincoln, Robertstown, Snuggery, South East, Stony Point, Tailem Bend and Yadnarie.

On 4 December 2019 ElectraNet published a Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) that confirms the preferred option is to replace the identified end-of-life protection relays to manage the risk of protection relay failure.