New electricity control centre in the south of Vienna

The main control centre, in which 14.2 million euros are being invested, is the operative steering and controlling centre for the APG's most important main operation and thereby the key control centre for grid safety for entire Austria. "The new central switch room is a technological and aesthetic landmark for safe electricity supply in Austria," declared VERBUND Chairman of the Managing Board Dr. Michael Pistauer on the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony.

The first piece of ground was turned over by VERBUND Chairman of the Managing Board Dr. Michael Pistauer, VERBUND board member Dr. Ulrike Baumgartner-Gabitzer, APG board member Dr. Heinz Kaupa and E-Control Managing Director Walter Boltz, as well as architects Dipl.-Ing. Martina Podivin and Dipl.-Ing. Benedict Marginter.

The consolidation of Europe and the liberalisation of the electricity market have revealed new tasks for the power grid operator. Within a few years, the existing distribution centre will not be able to cope with these challenges. For these reasons, a decision was taken by APG to construct a new main control centre in accordance with blueprints from the architects, Podivin and Marginter.

The primary tasks for the main control centre are the steering of the entire power grid operation and the transportation of electricity, the remote operation of the transformer station, as well as the coordination, the planning and meeting with the needs of customers and grid partners, both domestically and internationally. The main control centre will be manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The new control centre in southeast Vienna next to the S1 will start operating in 2009.