Dr. Thomas questions the Energy Minister about Kalgoorlie's power supply security under the new Western Energy Market (WEM) reforms, specifically regarding system restart services. The Minister clarifies that existing contracts cover the SWIS restart, while Western Power will procure new services for Kalgoorlie.

AnsweredQoN 123Legislative Council
Asked
13 March 2024
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

ELECTRICITY — OUTAGES — KALGOORLIE
123. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the live activation of
non-co-optimised essential system services as part of western energy market
reform of 1 October 2023 that replaces historical frameworks for network
central services and dispatch support services.
(1) Is the
provision of Kalgoorlie's power supply captured under WEM's
non-co-optimised essential system services incorporating system restart
services as the Australian Energy Market Operator procurers system restart
services to restart the south west interconnected system in the event of a widespread
blackout?
(2) If yes to (1), who is the
provider?
(3) If no to (1),
when will Kalgoorlie's power supply be safeguarded under WEMs'
non-co-optimised essential system services?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Energy I provide the
following answer.
(1) No. The
Australian Energy Market Operator has existing system restart services
contracts, procured under the wholesale electricity market rules, that would
enable it to restart the entire south west interconnected system in the event
of a widespread blackout. Western Power has a separate SRS contract to restart
the Kalgoorlie system when that system is islanded.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Western Power
will soon commence the procurement of new non-co-optimised essential system
services reliability services, including SRS services, for Kalgoorlie.

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