❓ A parliamentary question addresses power outages and reliability in rural Western Australia, with concerns raised about restoration times, service standards, and compensation for damages. The Minister's response defends Western Power's performance and investments.
AnsweredQoN 639Legislative Council
Asked
5 March 2003
Member
QuestionView source ↗
Country Western Australia’s power crisis is on a par with that experienced in Third World countries. In the Gingin shire, for example, power went out at 8.45 am on 22 February and was not restored until 4.50 pm the same day. In December, Mingenew and its surrounding districts were blacked out for 26 hours. Can the minister please explain - it sounds like Pauline Hanson - Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: She is not out to help you, I can assure you of that. Hon FRANK HOUGH: I appreciate the support! Can the minister please explain the following - (1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: She is not out to help you, I can assure you of that. Hon FRANK HOUGH: I appreciate the support! Can the minister please explain the following - (1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon FRANK HOUGH: I appreciate the support! Can the minister please explain the following - (1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment.
The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: She is not out to help you, I can assure you of that. Hon FRANK HOUGH: I appreciate the support! Can the minister please explain the following - (1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon FRANK HOUGH: I appreciate the support! Can the minister please explain the following - (1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(1) Are the abovementioned time frames for power restoration in country areas acceptable to the Government? (2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(2) What is the average actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out area in the city, and how does that compare with the actual time it takes to restore power to a blacked-out rural area? (3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(3) By what date can country Western Australia expect a reliable supply of power that is of a standard commensurate with that already available to metropolitan Western Australians? (4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(4) What level of funding has been committed to upgrading the standard of power supply and services to rural Western Australia this year? (5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(5) What compensation will be made available to country Western Australians who have suffered production loss and damage to electrical equipment as a result of power spikes and power shortages attributable to Western Power’s tardiness? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The Minister for Energy has provided the following reply - The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The outages that affected Mingenew in December were caused by lightning strikes. A severe storm damaged much of the network from Pindar to Carnamah. Local crews were fully occupied and had been working all night, and it was necessary to send crews from Geraldton to repair three bays of high voltage powerline and replace poles. Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Supplies to some customers in Gingin were disrupted by a pole-top fire on 22 February. Most customers had their power restored by 9.19 am; that is, within about half an hour. Only those customers who were supplied with power from the fault site experienced a longer outage. This is unavoidable in areas of low population density, where there is less opportunity for interconnection of the power system. See below for more information on lightning storms and mitigation of pole-top fires. (1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(1) Regulations established by the Director of Energy Safety determine the supply reliability standards, which the electricity provider is obliged to endeavour to meet. These standards include restoration times. However, these standards do not apply at times when the network or part of the network has been damaged or disrupted by storms or other emergencies that result in widespread interruption to supplies. (2) The supply reliability standards set by the regulations recognise that consumers on the perimeters of a particular geographic area will inevitably have more and longer interruptions than those in the centre of that area. Accordingly, reliability standards for regional areas are different from those for the Perth metropolitan area. This is because powerlines are longer and therefore more exposed to environmental interference, and there is less opportunity to interconnect customers to other networks while equipment is repaired. For example, in the three months to the end of January more than 90 per cent of customers across the south west interconnected system had supplies restored within two hours. I presume that means 90 per cent of customers who had disruptions to the power supply. The minister’s answer continues - (3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(3) Based on the latest published data from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd, the overall reliability of power supplies in the south west interconnected system in terms of number and duration of interruptions is better than the Australian average. Reliability on the SWIS is also significantly better than that in South Australia and Queensland, which have the most similar distribution of regional populations to Western Australia. Western Power’s reliability performance in the wheatbelt prior to the exceptional storms in October, November and December and the bushfires in December 2002 was within the Office of Energy’s safety reliability targets for outage frequency and duration. (4) Western Power commits significant funds to the maintenance and reinforcement of the network in rural Western Australia. Distribution maintenance expenditure for regional parts of the south west interconnected system for this year will be $27.8 million - almost triple what it was in 1999-2000. That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
That is the answer provided by the Minister for Energy. Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon George Cash: Which you double-checked six times. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have not double-checked it six times. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is trying to get to the end of the answer and should not be distracted. Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: As members opposite will note, I am making sure that members realise that I am delivering this answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy, who, I presume, has relied on Western Power for the provision of the information. Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Simon O’Brien: Does it ever get the information wrong? Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: If, however, any member has information that says - The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for the minister to ask questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Perhaps members can provide information if there is a problem. The minister’s answer continues - (5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
(5) Western Power will assist customers to meet fair and reasonable costs of repairs to damaged equipment under the following circumstances - incorrect action by Western Power; or failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment. The number of electrical storms experienced over the summer period between December 2002 and February 2003 was well above average. For example, in February the number of electrical storms was three times the average, according to advice from the Bureau of Meteorology. The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
failure or inappropriate operation of Western Power’s equipment.
The incidence of pole-top fires in the distribution network in the past few years has increased due to a changing weather pattern and increased pollution. Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Murray Criddle interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: That might be all that dust that has been coming in. Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Murray Criddle: There’s a fair bit of dust in here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: There was a fair bit of dust the other day when Hon Kim Chance and I flew into Moora, I presume on its way to east Binnu. The minister’s answer continues - Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Following an extensive study into the efficacy of various preventive measures, Western Power will embark on a program of silicon coating insulators. A training program has been developed and, following the evaluation of tenders, trial works will begin in March and April 2003 on four metropolitan feeders and selected north country feeders. Western Power expects to complete the full program within four years. Studies have shown line washing to be ineffective unless repeated fortnightly, which is cost prohibitive. I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
I hope the member finds the answer adequately comprehensive to meet his needs. Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon Norman Moore: Perhaps we could have a standing order that refers to the length of answers, because we have one that refers to the length of questions. Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: It was a five-part question.
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