❓ Question regarding a power outage in Kalgoorlie, focusing on the cause, responsibility, backup failure, and accountability. The response details the cause, identifies responsible parties, and explains the restoration approach.
AnsweredQoN 1037Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY — OUTAGE — KALGOORLIE
1037. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the recent power cut of Friday, 23 August in
Kalgoorlie, about which the Premier said on ABC radio —
''I
don't think [Western Power and Synergy] managed the risk properly and I've
asked the Energy Minister to bring
them in, and we're going to have a bit of a shout about this one,
because I'm frustrated and annoyed.''
(1) What was the cause of the outage?
(2) Who was responsible for maintaining the power supply?
(3) Why did the backup power supply not start within a
short period of time to provide power for the community?
(4) Will the
Premier take responsibility and apologise to the people of Kalgoorlie–Boulder
for failing them yet again?
1037. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the recent power cut of Friday, 23 August in
Kalgoorlie, about which the Premier said on ABC radio —
''I
don't think [Western Power and Synergy] managed the risk properly and I've
asked the Energy Minister to bring
them in, and we're going to have a bit of a shout about this one,
because I'm frustrated and annoyed.''
(1) What was the cause of the outage?
(2) Who was responsible for maintaining the power supply?
(3) Why did the backup power supply not start within a
short period of time to provide power for the community?
(4) Will the
Premier take responsibility and apologise to the people of Kalgoorlie–Boulder
for failing them yet again?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. On behalf
of the Minister for Energy, I provide the following answer.
(1) This
outage occurred while a new clean energy project in Cunderdin was being
connected to the network. Automatic network stability equipment was activated
at Western Power's Merredin terminal. Shortly thereafter, a static var
compensator, voltage control reactor and the 220-kilovolt Kondinin to Merredin
terminal line tripped.
(2) The
Australian Energy Market Operator is responsible for the secure and reliable
operation of the south west interconnected system. Under the Electricity Industry
(Network Quality and Reliability of Supply) Code 2005, Western Power has
specific obligations to restore and maintain 45 megawatts of supply to
essential services and the majority of small-use customers in the eastern
goldfields as soon as reasonably practicable following an unplanned outage.
(3) Western Power sought to use the fastest and safest
method of restoring power, which involved reconfiguring the network around the fault and re-energising the
line in a phased approach. In parallel, the West Kalgoorlie power
station was quickly activated as a contingency.
(4) This
question is not directed to the Minister for Energy.
of the Minister for Energy, I provide the following answer.
(1) This
outage occurred while a new clean energy project in Cunderdin was being
connected to the network. Automatic network stability equipment was activated
at Western Power's Merredin terminal. Shortly thereafter, a static var
compensator, voltage control reactor and the 220-kilovolt Kondinin to Merredin
terminal line tripped.
(2) The
Australian Energy Market Operator is responsible for the secure and reliable
operation of the south west interconnected system. Under the Electricity Industry
(Network Quality and Reliability of Supply) Code 2005, Western Power has
specific obligations to restore and maintain 45 megawatts of supply to
essential services and the majority of small-use customers in the eastern
goldfields as soon as reasonably practicable following an unplanned outage.
(3) Western Power sought to use the fastest and safest
method of restoring power, which involved reconfiguring the network around the fault and re-energising the
line in a phased approach. In parallel, the West Kalgoorlie power
station was quickly activated as a contingency.
(4) This
question is not directed to the Minister for Energy.
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