❓ Hon Barbara Scott inquires about Western Power's plans to trial broadband over powerline (BPL) technology, similar to Aurora Energy in Tasmania, to improve broadband access in regional WA. Hon Kim Chance responds that Western Power is monitoring BPL trials but considers it unproven commercially, focusing instead on core electricity services.
AnsweredQoN 703Legislative Council
Asked
11 October 2005
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Minister the
Energy
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Aurora Energy in Tasmania is conducting a large-scale commercial trial of broadband over powerline technology. Are there any plans for Western Power to conduct a similar trial in the near future? (2) If not, why not? (3) Would such a service not considerably enhance the profitability of Western Power? (4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Would such a service not considerably enhance the profitability of Western Power? (4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(3) Would such a service not considerably enhance the profitability of Western Power? (4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Would such a service not considerably enhance the profitability of Western Power? (4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(3) Would such a service not considerably enhance the profitability of Western Power? (4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(4) With such technology would Western Power be able to give regional and remote Western Australians access to broadband and its accompanying features such as videoconferencing, which seems unlikely through the Telstra network? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. It is a very interesting question. (1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(1) Western Power is monitoring trials into broadband over powerlines technology in Australia and overseas. Western Power is also monitoring the commercial trial of the BPL technology launched in September by Tasmania’s power utility, Aurora Energy, and Mitsubishi Electric. (2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(2) Western Power is aware of the potential that BPL offers but considers that it is still not a proven commercial solution. (3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(3) The commercial returns are not certain as BPL has not yet been proven commercially. Western Power is focusing on its core business of supplying safe and reliable electricity to its customers throughout Western Australia, which is enhanced by the $2.23 billion that the state government has committed over the next four years to improve and upgrade the network. (4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
(4) Western Power is watching very closely the ability of interstate and overseas power utilities to deliver BPL in a cost-effective manner.
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