❓ Mr. Blayney inquires about Western Power's silicon-coating strategy for insulators to prevent pole top fires in Geraldton and the Mid West. The response details fire statistics, coating frequency, current strategy, and prioritisation methods, including a new strategy implemented in 2020/2021.
AnsweredQoN 6063Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Western Power strategy of silicon-coating insulators as a way to combat pole top fires, and I ask: (a) How many pole top fires occurred in Geraldton and the Mid West in: (i) 2015; (ii) 2016; (iii) 2017; (iv) 2018; and (v) 2019; (b) Please provide a table showing how frequently the insulators were coated in silicon in Geraldton and the Midwest between January 2015 and March 2020; (c) What is the current strategy in relation to silicon-coating insulators in Geraldton the Mid West; and (d) How is priority for the strategy outlined in (c) determined?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 April 2020
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
7 days
(a)
(i) 2015 - 22 (ii) 2016 - 35 (iii) 2017 - 43 (iv) 2018 - 88 (v) 2019 – 82 (b) - (d) Between 2015 and 2019/20, Western Power applied silicone coating on all insulators (except Tyco insulators) in distribution lines in Geraldton and Mid-West once every 8 years. Based on advice available during that time, Tyco insulators were considered to have superior properties and did not require regular application of silicone coating.
The silicone application was prioritised based on potential fire risk consequence (i.e. risk of a pole top fire initiating a ground-fire).
During 2019, Western Power undertook a review of the strategy to mitigate pole top fire risk. The review led to the development of a new strategy for regions of the network with higher risk of pole top fire, including for the Geraldton and Mid-West. This new strategy includes:
1. A higher frequency of silicone application (5 years) in areas / feeders where the 8-year silicone-application frequency has proven to be inadequate;
2. Phasing out of Tyco insulators in North Country (including Geraldton and Mid-West) as these insulators are not performing up to the required level in this region (though the performance remains at the required level for rest of the network).
This strategy is currently being rolled out and will be in place for the 2020/2021 financial year. The strategy will be prioritised based on potential fire risk consequence and prioritising worst performing feeders for pole top fires in the region.
(i) 2015 - 22 (ii) 2016 - 35 (iii) 2017 - 43 (iv) 2018 - 88 (v) 2019 – 82 (b) - (d) Between 2015 and 2019/20, Western Power applied silicone coating on all insulators (except Tyco insulators) in distribution lines in Geraldton and Mid-West once every 8 years. Based on advice available during that time, Tyco insulators were considered to have superior properties and did not require regular application of silicone coating.
The silicone application was prioritised based on potential fire risk consequence (i.e. risk of a pole top fire initiating a ground-fire).
During 2019, Western Power undertook a review of the strategy to mitigate pole top fire risk. The review led to the development of a new strategy for regions of the network with higher risk of pole top fire, including for the Geraldton and Mid-West. This new strategy includes:
1. A higher frequency of silicone application (5 years) in areas / feeders where the 8-year silicone-application frequency has proven to be inadequate;
2. Phasing out of Tyco insulators in North Country (including Geraldton and Mid-West) as these insulators are not performing up to the required level in this region (though the performance remains at the required level for rest of the network).
This strategy is currently being rolled out and will be in place for the 2020/2021 financial year. The strategy will be prioritised based on potential fire risk consequence and prioritising worst performing feeders for pole top fires in the region.
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