❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Energy regarding federal funding for transmission upgrades in WA's interconnected systems. The response clarifies state government funding and the scope of planned upgrades, highlighting uncertainty in total costs.
AnsweredQoN 805Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH WEST INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM — CLEAN
ENERGY FINANCE CORPORATION
805. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to my question without
notice 905 of 29 August 2023 about the $3 billion in federal concessional loans
and equity investment for transmission upgrades in WA.
(1) What percentage of the upgrades to the south west
interconnected system will be undertaken by Western Power under this
scheme?
(2) What will be the state–commonwealth
cost mix on any upgrades to the SWIS?
(3) Will any commonwealth expenditure on transmission
upgrades be a concessional loan, an equity investment or some other
financial mechanism, and what total debt or equity will Western Australia owe
to the commonwealth government?
(4) Will all the new lines be 500 kilovolts,
as indicated by the SWIS demand assessment of May 2023?
(5) What is the
total cost of the required transmission construction for both the SWIS and the
north west interconnected system?
ENERGY FINANCE CORPORATION
805. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to my question without
notice 905 of 29 August 2023 about the $3 billion in federal concessional loans
and equity investment for transmission upgrades in WA.
(1) What percentage of the upgrades to the south west
interconnected system will be undertaken by Western Power under this
scheme?
(2) What will be the state–commonwealth
cost mix on any upgrades to the SWIS?
(3) Will any commonwealth expenditure on transmission
upgrades be a concessional loan, an equity investment or some other
financial mechanism, and what total debt or equity will Western Australia owe
to the commonwealth government?
(4) Will all the new lines be 500 kilovolts,
as indicated by the SWIS demand assessment of May 2023?
(5) What is the
total cost of the required transmission construction for both the SWIS and the
north west interconnected system?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing, and I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Energy.
(1)–(2) The
state government has allocated $1.158 billion to Western Power for transmission
upgrades in the south west interconnected system. None of this funding includes
or is dependent on federal concessional loans or equity investments.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The confirmed transmission investments outlined
under (1) are sized between 132 kilovolts and 330 kilovolts.
(5) The total
cost of transmission upgrades in the SWIS and the north west interconnected
system will be dependent on many factors, including the timeframe considered,
industry decarbonisation actions, confirmed renewable energy locations and
power system security requirements.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing, and I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Energy.
(1)–(2) The
state government has allocated $1.158 billion to Western Power for transmission
upgrades in the south west interconnected system. None of this funding includes
or is dependent on federal concessional loans or equity investments.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The confirmed transmission investments outlined
under (1) are sized between 132 kilovolts and 330 kilovolts.
(5) The total
cost of transmission upgrades in the SWIS and the north west interconnected
system will be dependent on many factors, including the timeframe considered,
industry decarbonisation actions, confirmed renewable energy locations and
power system security requirements.
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