❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding the implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) by Western Power and Horizon Power, focusing on policies, work impacts, and consistency with national standards.
AnsweredQoN 1018Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) on 1 September 2022 and with respect to Western Power and Horizon Power, and I ask: (a) please identify and table relevant policies and procedures that reference the AFDRS; (b) please detail for each utility the likely outcome of work impacts arising from the AFDRS during periods of significant fire risk; (c) what is the relevant AFDRS rating where each utility implements modified work practices including attempting to energise networks or conduct ground patrols; and (d) to what extent has each utility assessed its policies and procedures in relation to fire risk mitigation against their equivalents interstate and to what extent are they consistent or otherwise?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 November 2022
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
7 days
Horizon Power
a) The following policies and procedures reference the AFDRS are tabled:
b) The application of the AFDRS has not impeded Horizon Power’s ability to deliver its services.
c) Horizon Power implements modified work practices when a total fire ban is declared in any of its service regions.
Further, additional precautions are implemented when the Fire Behaviour Index ( FBI ) reaches 40.
d) Horizon Power has not undertaken this analysis with respect to interstate utilities.
However, all of the enterprise’s policies are consistent with the AFDRS, which was developed collaboratively between state and territory governments and the Commonwealth Government.
Western Power
a) The following Western Power procedures reference the Australian Fire Danger Rating System ( AFDRS ) :
· Standard Operating Procedure 164 Restoration of Lines, Feeders, Reclosers & Fuses
· Standard Operating Procedure 123 Fire Weather Mitigation Scheme Activation/Deactivation
· Bush Fire Act 1954 – Notice of Exemption Total Fire Ban Section 22C
b) The application of the AFDRS will not impede Western Power’s ability to deliver its services in line with its existing practices to restore electricity during a declared total fire ban.
c) Western Power implements modified work practices when a total fire ban is declared in any of its service regions. Western Power modifies its restoration procedures at 24 on the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI ) and alters the restoration work practice when the FBI is above 40.
d) Western Power’s policies and procedures in relation to fire risk mitigation are consistent with the AFDRS which was developed collaboratively between State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth Government.
a) The following policies and procedures reference the AFDRS are tabled:
b) The application of the AFDRS has not impeded Horizon Power’s ability to deliver its services.
c) Horizon Power implements modified work practices when a total fire ban is declared in any of its service regions.
Further, additional precautions are implemented when the Fire Behaviour Index ( FBI ) reaches 40.
d) Horizon Power has not undertaken this analysis with respect to interstate utilities.
However, all of the enterprise’s policies are consistent with the AFDRS, which was developed collaboratively between state and territory governments and the Commonwealth Government.
Western Power
a) The following Western Power procedures reference the Australian Fire Danger Rating System ( AFDRS ) :
· Standard Operating Procedure 164 Restoration of Lines, Feeders, Reclosers & Fuses
· Standard Operating Procedure 123 Fire Weather Mitigation Scheme Activation/Deactivation
· Bush Fire Act 1954 – Notice of Exemption Total Fire Ban Section 22C
b) The application of the AFDRS will not impede Western Power’s ability to deliver its services in line with its existing practices to restore electricity during a declared total fire ban.
c) Western Power implements modified work practices when a total fire ban is declared in any of its service regions. Western Power modifies its restoration procedures at 24 on the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI ) and alters the restoration work practice when the FBI is above 40.
d) Western Power’s policies and procedures in relation to fire risk mitigation are consistent with the AFDRS which was developed collaboratively between State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth Government.
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