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Donnybrook and Kirrup power supplies upgraded

Release Date: 06 March 2008

Western Power and the State Government are teaming up to bring a more reliable power supply to residents in Donnybrook as part of the Rural Power Improvement Program, funded by government to improve power reliability in country areas.

The $890,000 upgrade of the main power line from Kirup to Donnybrook is designed to increase the reliability of power supplies in Donnybrook by increasing the capacity of the network in the area.

As part of the upgrade a new 6.9 kilometre underground cable that runs from Garvey Road to Poad Road just south of Dardanup will be installed. 

The installation of the new cable will increase the flexibility of the power supply to Donnybrook by providing an alternate route for power in the event of a fault on the existing line.

The work has been underway since November and will be online and activated in late March when overhead powerline work is scheduled to be completed. 

Western Power spokesperson Marisa Chapman said as part of the work new automated load switches are being installed in Dardanup to increase the flexibility of supply to Donnybrook.  It is the first time automatic switches have been used in the region.

“The switching devices effectively break up long powerlines into sections so it is much easier to isolate a problem and then restore power to customers,” Ms Chapman said.

“If there is a fault in the area the automated switches allow the central controllers, in Perth, to automatically direct power through unaffected areas and restore power to customers before fault crews are even on site.”

“The switching occurs via computers that communicate with the devices via fibre optic or telephone cabling.  Because faults can be difficult to locate automatic switching devices are invaluable as a tool to help crews locate the fault, which speeds up repairs”, she said.

Western Power is installing hundreds of automated switches across the regional network in an effort to improve the restoration times for customers and improve the reliability of the network for regional customers.

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding this media release please email us: media@westernpower.com.au