Crews from Western Power’s metropolitan and South West depots have boosted work in the Mid West Region by assisting local crews in undertaking a seven-week maintenance and renewal program to improve reliability in Northampton, Port Gregory, Horrocks and surrounding areas.
Work included:
- Replacing around 200 poles
- Changing 50 high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) crossarms
- Changing 48 poles with HV insulators
- Replacing 10 drop out fuses
- Replacing around 17 kms of HV conductor
- Upgrading transformers
Western Power’s Head of Operational Maintenance, Brett Hovingh, said Western Power was committed to improving reliability in regional and remote areas that had been experiencing issues, particularly for those located at the end of long feeder lines.
“We’re working to improve the way we deliver power to these customers including a comprehensive maintenance and renewal program, and in this instance we’ve deployed crews from various locations across the network to get the job done in a more efficient way for the benefit of the community,” he said.
“An additional benefit in doing it this way is that when crews identify additional poles and equipment that needed replacing they can plan it into the work they are currently doing.
“The community support during this period was fantastic and we thank them. It was great for our crews on the ground to receive community feedback, particularly in areas where customers have experienced reliability issues,” he said.
“Crews were deployed from our Jandakot, Vasse and Stirling depots, working for 10 day period with travel either side.
“I want to acknowledge the commitment from our crews and thank them for their willingness to travel away from their homes and families to undertake this essential work.”
“The Western Power network has more than 100,000kms of overhead conductor and over 800,000 power poles with around $1 billion allocated each year in upgrading and maintaining the network to manage safety, reliability and environmental risks.”
Western Power is constantly developing and implementing new technologies as part of the transformation of the network to better meets the needs of the community.
Where once the network consisted of only wires, poles and substations spread across vast tracts of the State, we’re now integrating technologies such as stand-alone power systems, microgrids, disconnected microgrids and battery storage units, providing a safer, more reliable and green power supply.
The network is evolving to a modular grid ensuring a cleaner, brighter and more resilient energy supply for the next generation.