❓ Hon Barbara Scott questions the Minister for Energy regarding Western Power's decision to discontinue including communications conduit in the state underground power program (SUPP). The Minister confirms the decision was made prior to disaggregation due to resource constraints, but Western Power is open to private industry installing conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
AnsweredQoN 1176Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER - COMMUNICATIONS CONDUIT
(1) Can the minister confirm that Western Power no longer includes communications conduit as part of the state underground power program, and does the minister consider this to be a retrograde step? (2) If so, is this a result of the disaggregation of Western Power; and, if not, what is the reason? (3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE
(1) Can the minister confirm that Western Power no longer includes communications conduit as part of the state underground power program, and does the minister consider this to be a retrograde step? (2) If so, is this a result of the disaggregation of Western Power; and, if not, what is the reason? (3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(2) If so, is this a result of the disaggregation of Western Power; and, if not, what is the reason? (3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(2) If so, is this a result of the disaggregation of Western Power; and, if not, what is the reason? (3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(3) Will the government consider reinstating the policy of laying communications conduit at the same time as underground power is installed? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(1) Western Power no longer installs communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power employs its limited cash and borrowing resources exclusively on increasing capacity and reliability in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Western Power believes telecommunication infrastructure is best left to private industry, which has been invited to install communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP. (2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(2) The decision by the former Western Power Corporation to discontinue installing communications conduit in conjunction with the SUPP was made in 2004, prior to disaggregation in 2006, and was not linked to disaggregation. The reasons for discontinuation by the former Western Power Corporation related to conserving limited cash flow and to directing resources to upgrading and expanding the electricity network. (3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
(3) Western Power remains supportive of the concept of laying communications conduit as part of the state underground power program. Western Power remains open to approaches by parties who wish to install conduit in conjunction with the SUPP.
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