❓ Mr Marmion questions the costs and plans associated with overhead powerlines, particularly in Nedlands, prompting Western Power to detail costs, inspection procedures, and a risk-based approach to asset management and replacement.
AnsweredQoN 2089Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 September 2017
Member
Portfolio
Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the merits of converting overhead powerlines to underground lines: (a) what is the financial cost to Western Power to replace a power pole in the Perth Metropolitan area; (b) what is the annualised cost (per power pole) to Western Power of undertaking pole inspections; (c) what are the estimated energy savings per customer in the Perth metropolitan area from an underground power network versus overhead network; (d) how many emergency pole or wire incidents has Western Power experienced in the last 5 years in the City of Nedlands; (e) what is the financial cost to Western Power per emergency incident involving poles and wires in the Perth metroploitan area; (f) what is the current rate of power pole replacement in the Perth Metropolitan area and how does this rate compare to the City of Nedlands overhead network; (g) of the 675 poles left in the City of Nedlands can Western Power confirm how many are at 'end of life'; (h) of those at 'end of life' how many do Western Power intend to replace over the next six years and what are the locations of these poles; (i) of those not at 'end of life' what longer term plans does Western Power have to replace those poles; (j) what is the financial cost to Western Power in the Perth Metropolitan area of inspecting trees near powerlines to advise customers or relevant agencies of a need to prune trees; (k) what is the financial cost to Western Power or customers of pruning trees way from powerlines on street verges or private land in the Perth Metropolitan area; and (l) how much does Western Power spend annually on public safety programs to encourage the community to stay away from powerlines and keep trees away from powerlines?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 October 2017
Response time
6 days
(a) The average distribution wood pole unit rate in 2016/17 was $9,064.
(b) The average cost to complete a distribution pole inspection in 2016/17 was $151.
(c) There are no energy savings between overhead and underground networks.
(d) Western Power has responded to 117 faults within the City of Nedlands over the last five years, of which 111 were assisted failures (eg. Failures caused by vehicles, storms, debris, vegetation)
(e) The average cost for fault repair in 2016/17 was $1,439.
(f) Western Power uses a risk-based approach to asset management. Western Power considers the likelihood and consequence of individual asset failure and prioritises investment to address those assets that are at the highest risk of failure and have the greatest potential consequence. Therefore there is no set rate of pole replacement in the Perth metropolitan area or in the City of Nedlands.
(g) Western Power does not manage network assets on an age or an end of life basis. Western Power uses a risk-based approach to manage network assets. Please refer to (f) for further explanation.
(h) Consistent with Western Power’s risk-based approach it plans to replace 32 wood poles in the City of Nedlands during 2017/18 – 2021/22.
(i) Consistent with Western Power’s risk-based approach, it will monitor the condition of all poles and reinforce or replace as appropriate.
(j) The total cost of distribution wood pole vegetation inspections in 2016/17 was $5.2 million.
(k) The total cost of distribution tree cutting in 2016/17 was $11.5 million.
(l) Western Power spends $1.4 million per annum on industry and community safety programs to increase awareness and encourage safe practices near its underground and overhead networks.
(b) The average cost to complete a distribution pole inspection in 2016/17 was $151.
(c) There are no energy savings between overhead and underground networks.
(d) Western Power has responded to 117 faults within the City of Nedlands over the last five years, of which 111 were assisted failures (eg. Failures caused by vehicles, storms, debris, vegetation)
(e) The average cost for fault repair in 2016/17 was $1,439.
(f) Western Power uses a risk-based approach to asset management. Western Power considers the likelihood and consequence of individual asset failure and prioritises investment to address those assets that are at the highest risk of failure and have the greatest potential consequence. Therefore there is no set rate of pole replacement in the Perth metropolitan area or in the City of Nedlands.
(g) Western Power does not manage network assets on an age or an end of life basis. Western Power uses a risk-based approach to manage network assets. Please refer to (f) for further explanation.
(h) Consistent with Western Power’s risk-based approach it plans to replace 32 wood poles in the City of Nedlands during 2017/18 – 2021/22.
(i) Consistent with Western Power’s risk-based approach, it will monitor the condition of all poles and reinforce or replace as appropriate.
(j) The total cost of distribution wood pole vegetation inspections in 2016/17 was $5.2 million.
(k) The total cost of distribution tree cutting in 2016/17 was $11.5 million.
(l) Western Power spends $1.4 million per annum on industry and community safety programs to increase awareness and encourage safe practices near its underground and overhead networks.
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