❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses Western Power's failure to meet public safety incident targets, and the response outlines contributing factors and mitigation strategies. The ERA's positive review of Western Power's risk-based asset management system is highlighted.
AnsweredQoN 4631Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Why has Western Power failed to meet its 2014/15 public safety incidents target of 9.5? (2) What is Western Power doing to bring its actual public safety incidents down from 17.6 to the target of 9.5? (3) Has Western Power implemented measures to address its poor performance on public safety incidents?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 November 2015
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
35 days
(1) As for all large above-ground electricity networks, the performance of Western Power's network is subject to environmental and other factors outside its control. These include bird and animal strikes, contact by trees and vegetation and contractors hitting underground and overhead wires with machinery or vehicles. The majority (64 per cent) of public safety incidents recorded by this measure in 2014/15 were in this category. The remainder related to asset failure.
(2) Western Power regularly speaks to groups whose activities increase the risk of inadvertent contact with Western Power's network, in order to provide them information on how to remain safe and avoid contact with poles and wires. Western Power's vegetation management and risk-based asset works programs target the respective lesser causes of public safety incidents. The latter risk-based system was last year reviewed favourably by the Economic Regulation Authority following an external audit conducted by Jacobs SKM. As a result of the findings the ERA extended its review period for Western Power's systems out to 3 years; it had previously been an annual review.
(3) Yes.
(2) Western Power regularly speaks to groups whose activities increase the risk of inadvertent contact with Western Power's network, in order to provide them information on how to remain safe and avoid contact with poles and wires. Western Power's vegetation management and risk-based asset works programs target the respective lesser causes of public safety incidents. The latter risk-based system was last year reviewed favourably by the Economic Regulation Authority following an external audit conducted by Jacobs SKM. As a result of the findings the ERA extended its review period for Western Power's systems out to 3 years; it had previously been an annual review.
(3) Yes.
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