❓ Mr Blayney questions the Minister for Energy about increasing compensation for prolonged power outages in Geraldton and the Midwest. The Minister acknowledges the issue, outlines Western Power's efforts to address pole-top fires and improve infrastructure, and states that changing the $80 compensation is not currently considered appropriate but is open to review after consulting with constituents.
AnsweredQoN 40Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER —
POWER OUTAGES — GERALDTON AND MIDWEST
40. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to recent power outages that
have impacted about 8 000 Western Power customers who are resident in my electorate of Geraldton and throughout the
midwest, with some experiencing power outages for more than five days a number
of times over the summer. Has the government considered increasing the paltry
$80 compensation to customers who experience outages for more than 12 hours;
and, if not, why not?
POWER OUTAGES — GERALDTON AND MIDWEST
40. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to recent power outages that
have impacted about 8 000 Western Power customers who are resident in my electorate of Geraldton and throughout the
midwest, with some experiencing power outages for more than five days a number
of times over the summer. Has the government considered increasing the paltry
$80 compensation to customers who experience outages for more than 12 hours;
and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you for the question, member.
I appreciate the problems that people experience when they are without power.
In a modern society, it is very difficult. Most people now have their homes
completely set around the use of electricity, and when they are without power,
it is always a struggle. I was pleased to receive an invitation from the Mayor of Geraldton to come to Geraldton to
talk to constituents. I know that the member has been in conversation with the mayor as well, and I look forward to coming to Geraldton with Western
Power at an agreed time to meet with residents and businesses up there and
discuss the issues that the people of Geraldton have experienced over this
summer.
It is always difficult to deal with
such a long, thin, electricity system. Pole-top fires and other problems are
constant in Western Australia. I am pleased
to say that whilst the number of pole-top fires is now lower than it was in
2013– 14, there is still more work that Western Power can do. I was
pleased to meet with Western Power yesterday to talk about this issue of
dealing with pole-top fires in our unique environment here in Western Australia.
It is important to understand particularly that the closer a pole is to the
coast, the more common a pole-top fire is going to be. It is about five years
since Western Power started using silicon to coat the poles. It appears that
the performance of the silicon has not been to the standard that was expected
in those coastal areas, so Western Power is adjusting the way it performs
maintenance on poles to ensure that there is a higher concentration in areas
such as in the member's community of Geraldton. The good news is that
there should be a continued improvement in the quality of performance of the
Western Power infrastructure in the member's community. For inland
communities, the good news is that new technologies are being applied to the
network, such as standalone power systems, that will see a significant
improvement in the reliability of power. We are investing. I look forward to
the passage of the electricity reform legislation. I acknowledge that the
shadow minister and a representative of the Nationals WA have recently been
briefed and indicate that they are supporting the legislation. That legislation
will again allow for new technologies to be used by Western Power to even
further improve the quality of service that people in Western Australia receive
from that very important state-owned enterprise.
With the $80 payment, it is not
considered appropriate at this moment to change that, but I am happy to listen
to the member's constituents when I come to Geraldton. I certainly will
not be very pleased to hear their experience, and if we need to look at that
matter, I would be happy to do so.
I appreciate the problems that people experience when they are without power.
In a modern society, it is very difficult. Most people now have their homes
completely set around the use of electricity, and when they are without power,
it is always a struggle. I was pleased to receive an invitation from the Mayor of Geraldton to come to Geraldton to
talk to constituents. I know that the member has been in conversation with the mayor as well, and I look forward to coming to Geraldton with Western
Power at an agreed time to meet with residents and businesses up there and
discuss the issues that the people of Geraldton have experienced over this
summer.
It is always difficult to deal with
such a long, thin, electricity system. Pole-top fires and other problems are
constant in Western Australia. I am pleased
to say that whilst the number of pole-top fires is now lower than it was in
2013– 14, there is still more work that Western Power can do. I was
pleased to meet with Western Power yesterday to talk about this issue of
dealing with pole-top fires in our unique environment here in Western Australia.
It is important to understand particularly that the closer a pole is to the
coast, the more common a pole-top fire is going to be. It is about five years
since Western Power started using silicon to coat the poles. It appears that
the performance of the silicon has not been to the standard that was expected
in those coastal areas, so Western Power is adjusting the way it performs
maintenance on poles to ensure that there is a higher concentration in areas
such as in the member's community of Geraldton. The good news is that
there should be a continued improvement in the quality of performance of the
Western Power infrastructure in the member's community. For inland
communities, the good news is that new technologies are being applied to the
network, such as standalone power systems, that will see a significant
improvement in the reliability of power. We are investing. I look forward to
the passage of the electricity reform legislation. I acknowledge that the
shadow minister and a representative of the Nationals WA have recently been
briefed and indicate that they are supporting the legislation. That legislation
will again allow for new technologies to be used by Western Power to even
further improve the quality of service that people in Western Australia receive
from that very important state-owned enterprise.
With the $80 payment, it is not
considered appropriate at this moment to change that, but I am happy to listen
to the member's constituents when I come to Geraldton. I certainly will
not be very pleased to hear their experience, and if we need to look at that
matter, I would be happy to do so.
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