❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses Western Power's strategy for mitigating pole top fires, including the number of fires, causes, mitigation strategies, and potential replacement of wooden poles. The response provides data and context.
AnsweredQoN 395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Western Power strategy of replacing insulators to combat pole top fires and I ask: (a) How many pole top fires have occurred in Western Australia in: (i) 2019; (ii) 2020; (iii) 2021; and (iv) 2022 to date; (b) What type of insulators are causing the fires and why; (c) Does Western Power have a strategy for mitigating against pole top fires; and (d) Does Western Power have any intention of changing from wooden poles to fireproof poles?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2022
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
9 days
(a)
(i) 2018/19 - 350
(ii) 2019/20 - 496
(iii) 2020/21 - 247
(iv) 2021/22 to date – 56
Note: Western Power measures these figures by financial year, not calendar year.
(b) Insulators do not cause pole top fires. Pole top fires are caused by built-up layers of pollution, salt or dust becoming moist due to specific weather conditions; this creates an electrically conductive pathway, which can enable electricity to heat the pole top.
(c) Yes.
(d) A recent analysis has shown that for specific applications, wood poles could be replaced with steel poles. However, steel poles introduce different types of risk. Western Power’s asset selections therefore must weigh up different risks, as well as prudent expenditure. Final selections will be made on a case-by-case basis.
(i) 2018/19 - 350
(ii) 2019/20 - 496
(iii) 2020/21 - 247
(iv) 2021/22 to date – 56
Note: Western Power measures these figures by financial year, not calendar year.
(b) Insulators do not cause pole top fires. Pole top fires are caused by built-up layers of pollution, salt or dust becoming moist due to specific weather conditions; this creates an electrically conductive pathway, which can enable electricity to heat the pole top.
(c) Yes.
(d) A recent analysis has shown that for specific applications, wood poles could be replaced with steel poles. However, steel poles introduce different types of risk. Western Power’s asset selections therefore must weigh up different risks, as well as prudent expenditure. Final selections will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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