❓ Mr. Blayney questions the Energy Minister about the 'program of work' to improve power reliability in Geraldton and the Mid West, requesting details and expenditure figures. The Minister provides details of Western Power's maintenance program, specific projects, and expenditure data, explaining fluctuations in spending.
AnsweredQoN 6060Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer given to Question Without Notice No. 131 on Wednesday, 11
March 2020, in relation to the ‘program of work’ that you mentioned, and I ask: (a) What does the ‘program of work’ entail; (b) Please outline the State Government’s plans to
improve power reliability in Geraldton and the Mid West; and (c) Please provide a table showing the level of expenditure
for maintenance work carried out on the Midwest power supply, and specifically
what the costs were for in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019?
March 2020, in relation to the ‘program of work’ that you mentioned, and I ask: (a) What does the ‘program of work’ entail; (b) Please outline the State Government’s plans to
improve power reliability in Geraldton and the Mid West; and (c) Please provide a table showing the level of expenditure
for maintenance work carried out on the Midwest power supply, and specifically
what the costs were for in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 April 2020
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
7 days
(a) Western Power’s ‘Program of Work’ entails managing and maintaining the network, prioritising activities based on safety and reliability risks. This involves regular inspection, assessment of condition of asset, and appropriate treatment of asset (e.g. replacing, repairing, refurbishment, renewal or removal) in the transmission and distribution network. The ‘program of work’, in broader terms, also includes implementation of specific solutions aimed at improving reliability of the network in specific areas / localities in the network.
To provide further details, the ‘Program of Work’ includes regular inspection, pole replacement & reinforcement, reconductoring, conductor & accessories repair, cross-arm replacement, insulator replacement, insulator silicone application, routine maintenance or repair of plant equipment, refurbishment/repair of plant equipment, replacement of plant equipment, network automation, other routine and ad-hoc corrective and preventive maintenance work on the network.
In the Geraldton region, all these works help with reliability of the network. Additionally, implementation of specific solutions such as stand-alone power systems, installation of micro-grids, deployment of stand-by generators in the Geraldton region also help with reliability of supply to specific areas/localities. Some of these specific solutions or projects are already in service while others are under various stages of planning and installation.
In response to the recent incidents in the Geraldton area that affected reliability of supply, Western Power has reviewed the ‘Program of Work’ and increased insulator silicone application and insulator replacement work, including in the Geraldton region starting in 2020/21.
(b)
In addition to ongoing network replacement activities (e.g. replacement of poles, insulators and conductors), and the washing and siliconing of insulators, key projects planned to improve power reliability in Geraldton and the Mid West include:
(c)
Expenditure for maintenance work
FY 14/15
FY 15/16
FY 16/17
FY 17/18
FY 18/19
$ 31,180,961
$ 18,802,484
$ 2,850,446
$ 12,025,049
$ 7,658,548
The approximately $50 million in expenditure in 2014/15 and 2015/16 includes a significant wood pole investment program (including replacement and reinforcement of wood poles and conductor replacement). The downward trend in the following years reflects that the wood pole investment program was effective in resolving many issues in relation to the condition of the poles, and therefore business-as-usual maintenance was largely sufficient to cover risk in the following years. The Program of Work review referenced above identified that additional work is required on our insulators and in relation to silicon application.
In addition to this, Western Power’s investment in alternative network solutions, including stand-alone power systems and the Kalbarri microgrid, is reducing reliance on traditional approaches to network maintenance.
To provide further details, the ‘Program of Work’ includes regular inspection, pole replacement & reinforcement, reconductoring, conductor & accessories repair, cross-arm replacement, insulator replacement, insulator silicone application, routine maintenance or repair of plant equipment, refurbishment/repair of plant equipment, replacement of plant equipment, network automation, other routine and ad-hoc corrective and preventive maintenance work on the network.
In the Geraldton region, all these works help with reliability of the network. Additionally, implementation of specific solutions such as stand-alone power systems, installation of micro-grids, deployment of stand-by generators in the Geraldton region also help with reliability of supply to specific areas/localities. Some of these specific solutions or projects are already in service while others are under various stages of planning and installation.
In response to the recent incidents in the Geraldton area that affected reliability of supply, Western Power has reviewed the ‘Program of Work’ and increased insulator silicone application and insulator replacement work, including in the Geraldton region starting in 2020/21.
(b)
In addition to ongoing network replacement activities (e.g. replacement of poles, insulators and conductors), and the washing and siliconing of insulators, key projects planned to improve power reliability in Geraldton and the Mid West include:
(c)
Expenditure for maintenance work
FY 14/15
FY 15/16
FY 16/17
FY 17/18
FY 18/19
$ 31,180,961
$ 18,802,484
$ 2,850,446
$ 12,025,049
$ 7,658,548
The approximately $50 million in expenditure in 2014/15 and 2015/16 includes a significant wood pole investment program (including replacement and reinforcement of wood poles and conductor replacement). The downward trend in the following years reflects that the wood pole investment program was effective in resolving many issues in relation to the condition of the poles, and therefore business-as-usual maintenance was largely sufficient to cover risk in the following years. The Program of Work review referenced above identified that additional work is required on our insulators and in relation to silicon application.
In addition to this, Western Power’s investment in alternative network solutions, including stand-alone power systems and the Kalbarri microgrid, is reducing reliance on traditional approaches to network maintenance.
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