Technical guidelines and manuals

A complete list of our technical guidelines, manuals and policies. If you are not sure which document to use, the section relevant to your situation (Residential customers, Business customers, Land developers and designers, Network/Electrical contractors, Local governments or Electricity retailers and generators) provides more information and a tailored manuals and guidelines section.

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Our guidelines and manuals

Artwork on Western Power assets (PDF 140 kb)
This standard defines the technical requirements for the application of artwork on Western Power's network assets.

Construction distribution powerlines and cables in the vicinity of pipelines (WORD 596kb)
This document addresses the minimisation of risk associated with the construction of new distribution powerlines in the vicinity of pipelines.

Deciding between overhead and underground construction in road reserves (PDF 99kb)
This guideline provides assistance with the process when deciding between overhead and underground construction in road reserves for power supplies associated with subdivisional and non-subdivisional projects.

Decorative fixtures, signs and banners on our assets (PDF 143kb)
This standard defines the requirements for the attachment of fixtures, fittings, signs and banners on our poles and streetlight columns in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

Distribution construction standards handbook
This handbook defines our distribution construction standard for both HV and LV of the overhead and underground system, including the streetlights.

Distribution design catalogue (DDC)
The DDC contains the approved standard equipment arrangements for the design of our underground and overhead distribution networks within the SWIS. The DDC does not encompass construction standards and should be read in conjunction with our relevant design and construction publications.

Distribution pole to pillar policy (PDF 230 kb)
This guideline specifies the conditions that we will, under a pole to pillar scheme, provide a domestic underground connection to an electrical distribution system in overhead areas. (See Network projects P2P)

Distribution substation manual
This manual contains the approved standard arrangements for the design, construction and installation of distribution substations, connection of customers to these substations and interconnection of the substations to the surrounding HV and LV networks.

Earthing Standards – Frequently asked questions (PDF 104kb)
This fact sheet addresses a number of frequently asked questions relating to earthing issues ranging from minimum resistances to the placement of earth rods. 

Guideline for ordering cable end caps and working end pillars (PDF 121 kb) 27/10/2005 - Issue 1   

Guideline for requesting design information package (DIP) (PDF 68 kb) 27/10/2005 - Issue 2

Guideline for completing transformer load tables on design drawings (PDF 127 kb) 27/10/2005 - Issue 3

Bedding sand and backfill sand around cables and general backfill for cable trenches - Material selection guidelines (PDF 110kb) 04/01/2006 - Issue 4

Guideline for the approval of major/minor changes during construction (PDF 95 kb) - Issue 5

HV substation feeder exit circuits isolation policy (PDF 89 kb)
This standard explains why all ZSFE circuits require an isolation point on the remote end of the circuit before any Y Splits in the network or connections to transformers.

Locating ground mounted equipment (PDF 351kb)
This document provides guidance and advice on the effective location of ground mounted distribution equipment (GME), to avoid any possible negative outcomes.

Materials procurement

Non-standard equipment

Placement of poles in road reserves
This link will take you to a series of policies detailing the requirements for the placement of poles near roads, within road reserves in built up areas and areas where traffic speed limits may exceed 70 kmh.

Substation/Switchgear layout requirements on subdivision design drawing submitted for design conformance review (PDF 116kb) Number 02, 27/10/2005
To ensure the correct configuration of switches and switch-fuses and the layout of terminating HV cables it is important that design drawings be submitted for a design conformance review.

Telecommunication equipment located in the vicinity of proposed distribution HV earths (PDF 88kb)
This document ensures that high voltage distribution earthing system installations do not result in dangerous levels of earth potential rise (EPR) on nearby telecommunications assets.

Underground cable installation manual
This formalises requirements for the safe and efficient installation of underground cables that are to be connected to our public distribution system.

Underground distribution schemes manual (UDS)
This manual contains the information required by developers and their electrical consultants to allow them to undertake the electrical reticulation of new subdivisions. Last updated: April 2011

Unmetered supply policy (PDF 165 kb)
The purpose of this document is to define the requirements for the installation and connection of an un-metered supply to our low voltage distribution network.
 
Western Australian distribution connections manual (WADCM) (PDF 4.8 Mb - large file)
The purpose of WADC is to provide a comprehensive single point of reference for industry and community when seeking an electrical connection of a customer’s installation to the distribution network of:

  •  Horizon Power’s North West interconnected system (NWIS)
  • Horizon Power’s regional non-interconnected systems (RNIS)
  • Western Power’s South West interconnected system (SWIS)

The WADCM supersedes the following documents:

  • Transitional (interim edition) connections manual (issued August 2008)
  • Substation standards DSB 95/5 (issued April 2009) and DSB 95/6 (issued May 2009) 
  • Metering requirements (issued September 2006)
  • 415 volt switchboard - current transformers, meter panels and wiring. (issued June 2004)
  • Policy and technical requirements for AMR systems
  • Service protection devices (SPD's) (issued June 2003)

WADCM Interim Amendment (PDF 40 kb) 

Submit feedback on the WADC

Western Power and Horizon Power welcome feedback on any aspect of the Western Australian Distribution Connections Manual and its application.

Western Australian electrical requirements (WAER)
The first 12 sections of the WAER were published by Energy Safety provide an authoritative and mandatory technical reference for the safe and efficient connection of customer’s installations to electricity networks. We need to meet the legislated WAER and relevant Australian Standards through our policies, standards and workmanship.