❓ Mr. Marmion questions Western Power about the condition of power poles in Nedlands, replacement rates, lifespan, inspection costs, and future plans for transmission lines. Western Power provides data and plans, including decommissioning one 66kV line.
AnsweredQoN 2355Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many power poles in the City of Nedlands are categorised as falling into the worst 20th percentile condition? (2) What percentage of the total number of timber poles are replaced in the Perth metropolitan area on average each year? (3) What is the expected or planned lifespan of a treated pine pole such as those installed in the City of Nedlands in recent years? (4) What is the annual cost of vegetation inspections per power pole in the metropolitan area? (5) What are Western Power's future plans for transmission lines (particularly 66kV lines) in the City of Nedlands?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 February 2018
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
9 days
(1) 219.
(2) Western Power replaces power poles across the distribution network based on condition of a portfolio of assets (for example poles, conductors, transformers). The priority and mix of investment on individual assets depends on the level of risk that these assets present. Western Power also participates in the State Underground Power Program which combined with some maintenance activities results in the removal of poles from the network as infrastructure is placed underground. Therefore, the number of power pole replacements and split between metro / non-metro varies yearly. From 2013/14 to 2016/17, the percentage of poles replaced in the metropolitan area has varied between 24% and 44%.
(3) Based on AS/NZS 7000 untreated unreinforced hardwood, poles have a service life expectancy of 15-25 years and softwood poles (such as pine) have an expected service life of 45-55 years.
(4) Western Power maintains power poles through proactive full, visual and vegetation inspections on a cyclic basis utilising a risk based approach. Full and visual inspections also include a vegetation component and, when considered together with the specific vegetation inspection program, equates to $10.50 per pole in 2016/17.
(5) There are currently five 66kV transmission lines passing through the City of Nedlands. Of these, the Western Terminal – Nedlands/North Fremantle is currently planned to be decommissioned by 2022/23. All the other lines are currently planned to stay beyond a 10 year horizon, after which they will likely be replaced with 132 kV lines.
(2) Western Power replaces power poles across the distribution network based on condition of a portfolio of assets (for example poles, conductors, transformers). The priority and mix of investment on individual assets depends on the level of risk that these assets present. Western Power also participates in the State Underground Power Program which combined with some maintenance activities results in the removal of poles from the network as infrastructure is placed underground. Therefore, the number of power pole replacements and split between metro / non-metro varies yearly. From 2013/14 to 2016/17, the percentage of poles replaced in the metropolitan area has varied between 24% and 44%.
(3) Based on AS/NZS 7000 untreated unreinforced hardwood, poles have a service life expectancy of 15-25 years and softwood poles (such as pine) have an expected service life of 45-55 years.
(4) Western Power maintains power poles through proactive full, visual and vegetation inspections on a cyclic basis utilising a risk based approach. Full and visual inspections also include a vegetation component and, when considered together with the specific vegetation inspection program, equates to $10.50 per pole in 2016/17.
(5) There are currently five 66kV transmission lines passing through the City of Nedlands. Of these, the Western Terminal – Nedlands/North Fremantle is currently planned to be decommissioned by 2022/23. All the other lines are currently planned to stay beyond a 10 year horizon, after which they will likely be replaced with 132 kV lines.
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