❓ A parliamentary question regarding the safety and maintenance of Western Power's infrastructure, with the Minister clarifying the network's condition and maintenance programs. The Minister refutes the claim that the network has reached the end of its safe life, clarifying that his previous statement referred specifically to the wood pole inspection backlog.
AnsweredQoN 7307Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the media release by Western Power of 15 September 2011, which states that the network is effectively reaching the end of its useful and safe life, and I ask:
(a) does the Minister for Energy agree that the Western Power network has reached the end of its safe life;
(b) if the Minister does agree with this statement, can the Minister outline the reasons for his statement to the Legislative Council on 10 November 2011 that maintenance issues with the Western Power network are down to a virtually negligible amount currently; and
(c) what is the current level of maintenance required for each of the following asset categories in the Western Power network:
(i) wooden power poles;
(ii) metal and concrete power poles;
(iii) high-voltage transmissions lines;
(iv) step-down transformers;
(v) sub-stations; and
(vi) other infrastructure?
(a) does the Minister for Energy agree that the Western Power network has reached the end of its safe life;
(b) if the Minister does agree with this statement, can the Minister outline the reasons for his statement to the Legislative Council on 10 November 2011 that maintenance issues with the Western Power network are down to a virtually negligible amount currently; and
(c) what is the current level of maintenance required for each of the following asset categories in the Western Power network:
(i) wooden power poles;
(ii) metal and concrete power poles;
(iii) high-voltage transmissions lines;
(iv) step-down transformers;
(v) sub-stations; and
(vi) other infrastructure?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 March 2012
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
28 days
(a) No. The network has not reached the end of its safe life but the infrastructure is aging with a proportion of the network effectively reaching the end of its service life.
(b) My response of 10 November 2011 was intended to refer to the wood pole inspection backlog which has come down from a backlog of around 100 000 in 2005-06 to a functional zero backlog currently. My response was not intended to refer to general 'maintenance issues' across the network.
(c) (i - vi) Western Power does not perform ongoing maintenance on its assets using the categories above. Western Power defines asset maintenance as the operating expenditure for those activities that are required to determine the condition of the assets, undertake repairs or undertake emergency restoration. Western Power delivers its maintenance activities through four distinct programs across the transmission and distribution networks:
1.
preventative routine
- routine asset inspection cycles and equipment tests
2.
preventative condition
- responsive works based on asset condition
3.
corrective emergency
- responsive works based on a network emergency or failure in service
4.
corrective deferred
- follow-up works after emergency network repairs
For the 2011/12 financial year Western Power's total maintenance program is approximately $257 million dollars. [Tabled Paper No.] provides a breakdown of Western Power's asset maintenance programs which includes the asset categories in the question above.
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(b) My response of 10 November 2011 was intended to refer to the wood pole inspection backlog which has come down from a backlog of around 100 000 in 2005-06 to a functional zero backlog currently. My response was not intended to refer to general 'maintenance issues' across the network.
(c) (i - vi) Western Power does not perform ongoing maintenance on its assets using the categories above. Western Power defines asset maintenance as the operating expenditure for those activities that are required to determine the condition of the assets, undertake repairs or undertake emergency restoration. Western Power delivers its maintenance activities through four distinct programs across the transmission and distribution networks:
1.
preventative routine
- routine asset inspection cycles and equipment tests
2.
preventative condition
- responsive works based on asset condition
3.
corrective emergency
- responsive works based on a network emergency or failure in service
4.
corrective deferred
- follow-up works after emergency network repairs
For the 2011/12 financial year Western Power's total maintenance program is approximately $257 million dollars. [Tabled Paper No.] provides a breakdown of Western Power's asset maintenance programs which includes the asset categories in the question above.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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