http://nz.biz.yahoo.com//091103/3/fgod.html

WEL Networks is putting a third of a 25km transmission line from its Te Uku wind farm near Raglan underground, allowing the preservation of some trees on the route.

Wel Networks and Meridian Energy announced last month they were going ahead with the project.

The company today announced plans for the transmission route from the wind farm to WEL Network's substations at Te Kowhai and Te Uku. The line will be commissioned by October 2010.

The line has been downgraded from 110kV in an original plan to 33kV because the wind farm will have less capacity than originally consented.

The wind farm will have a capacity of 64 megawatts, 20 megawatts less than originally planned.

"A benefit of doing this undergrounding is that it's unlikely we'll have to remove trees and vegetation along those portions of the route," said Julian Elder, Wel Network's chief executive.

A substation is no longer be required at the wind farm site. A switching station building will contain all electrical gear and equipment.

WEL Networks is owned by a community trust, WEL Energy Trust. Its distribution system connects 80,000 customers to the national grid.