POWERCOR will retool its Bendigo network over the next four months as consumers rush to install solar energy.
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The city has become a hotspot for solar and in the past 18 months the number of customers seeking solar connections has doubled.
Powercor wants to upgrade its Bendigo network to help solar panel owners export more energy to the grid.
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It also wants to help deal with solar systems that trip because of voltage issues when sending excess solar into the energy network.
The voltage problems do not just affect homes with solar panels. They can cause issues even for people who do not have green energy systems as they inject solar power into the grid.
Powercor has launched the upgrades amid predictions that energy consumers will be the driving factor in the way the grid develops in years to come, general manager of electricity networks Mark Clarke said.
"In the hotspot areas, greater than one in three homes has solar connected so our program of works is important to helping these customers make the most of their investment," he said.
Powercor crews will travel to 30 locations a week in Bendigo, Ballarat and Portland until June.
They will work on the poles and wires to make sure the voltage is well balanced across all powerlines and changing the settings on major transformers in zone substations to reduce the overall voltage levels.
Powercor says it will contact customers before planned outages connected with the upgrades.
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