❓ Mr Brown questions the Minister for Energy regarding Western Power's power pole standards, safety mechanisms, and replacement programs, highlighting concerns about public safety due to aging infrastructure. The Minister provides details on standards, budget allocations, and maintenance programs.
AnsweredQoN 167Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
167. Mr BROWN to the Minister for Energy:
(1) Does Western Power require its power poles to be of a certain standard?
(2) If so, what is that standard?
(3) In the event that pressure is applied on power lines, such as falling branches, what safety mechanisms are in place to ensure the power lines will pull away from the pole or house before causing a power pole to snap/break?
(4) Does Western Power have an allocation for replacing power poles?
(5) If so, what is that allocation?
(6) Has Western Power (or its predecessor SECWA) ever had a budget allocation for power pole replacement?
(7) What was the amount allocated for that purpose?
(8) Have there been any instances of power poles falling over due to timber rot, white ants or the like?
(9) To what extent is the public safety put at danger by aging or unsafe power poles?
(10) Is the Minister able to guarantee that all of the Western Power poles are in good condition and do not pose a public safety hazard?
(11) If not, why not?
(1) Does Western Power require its power poles to be of a certain standard?
(2) If so, what is that standard?
(3) In the event that pressure is applied on power lines, such as falling branches, what safety mechanisms are in place to ensure the power lines will pull away from the pole or house before causing a power pole to snap/break?
(4) Does Western Power have an allocation for replacing power poles?
(5) If so, what is that allocation?
(6) Has Western Power (or its predecessor SECWA) ever had a budget allocation for power pole replacement?
(7) What was the amount allocated for that purpose?
(8) Have there been any instances of power poles falling over due to timber rot, white ants or the like?
(9) To what extent is the public safety put at danger by aging or unsafe power poles?
(10) Is the Minister able to guarantee that all of the Western Power poles are in good condition and do not pose a public safety hazard?
(11) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
97 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) Yes.
(2) Electricity Standards Association of Australia Standard HBc(b)1-1999.
(3) The lines are not designed to pull away from the pole when pressure is applied.
(4) Yes.
(5) $7.7 million was allocated for FY 00/01, to the distribution pole inspection, replacement and reinforcement program. $796,000 was allocated for FY 00/01 for the transmission pole inspection , replacement and reinforcement program.
(6) Yes.
(7) $2.98 million allocated for FY 1999/2000 replacement programme.
(8) Yes.
(9) Public safety is a primary concern of Western Power. At all times Western Power puts the safety of the general public and its employees first. Due to the proactive measures undertaken by Western Power, the risk to the public of an incident involving power poles is minimised.
(10) Western Power's maintenance program aims to ensure reasonable precautions and preventative measures are taken to guarantee the structural integrity of Western Power poles.
(11) Not applicable.
(1) Yes.
(2) Electricity Standards Association of Australia Standard HBc(b)1-1999.
(3) The lines are not designed to pull away from the pole when pressure is applied.
(4) Yes.
(5) $7.7 million was allocated for FY 00/01, to the distribution pole inspection, replacement and reinforcement program. $796,000 was allocated for FY 00/01 for the transmission pole inspection , replacement and reinforcement program.
(6) Yes.
(7) $2.98 million allocated for FY 1999/2000 replacement programme.
(8) Yes.
(9) Public safety is a primary concern of Western Power. At all times Western Power puts the safety of the general public and its employees first. Due to the proactive measures undertaken by Western Power, the risk to the public of an incident involving power poles is minimised.
(10) Western Power's maintenance program aims to ensure reasonable precautions and preventative measures are taken to guarantee the structural integrity of Western Power poles.
(11) Not applicable.
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