Western Power builds Kalgoorlie capacity
Release Date: 14 February 2008
Western Power has completed nearly $3 million of works at the Piccadilly substation in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to allow for the continued growth of the city.
Western Power spokesperson in Kalgoorlie Mr Kim Cooper said that residents in Boulder are to benefit from these works
"Western Power completed work on three projects, originating at the Piccadilly substation, in December to meet the expected increase in power use over the summer period," Mr Cooper said.
The three projects included the installation of a new feeder line into Boulder ($1.7 million), work to reconfigure the network ($870,000) and the installation of exit cables at the Piccadilly substation ($390,000)
"The new feeder into Boulder runs for 4.2 kilometres, of which 2.7 kilometres has been undergrounded.
"Undergrounding powerlines is not possible in all areas, but when it is used it can improve reliability by eliminating power interruptions caused by birds, pole top fires, cars crashes and damage caused by storms.
"This new feeder will increase the amount of power being delivered into the area," Mr Cooper said.
The reconfiguration of the network included rebalancing the load on other main powerlines out of the substation, which will improve the reliability of power supplies to customers in Boulder.
Powerlines occasionally need rebalancing to accurately meet the amount of power being used by residents on each main powerline coming out of a substation.
As residents purchase new appliances and therefore alter the demand for electricity in different parts of the network Western Power rebalances the system to ensure power is evenly distributed across main powerlines.
The replacement of exit cables from the substation will increase the reliability of the network in times of peak power use. In summer the peak usually occurs between 3 and 6pm each day.
An exit cable carries high voltage electricity from the substation, which is stepped down to lower voltages before supplying customers
"The increased use of air conditioners and other high power use appliances and the increase in new connections in Kalgoorlie and across the network have put extra demands on the network.
"The new exit cables are better suited to meet the increased power demand placed on the Western Power network by appliances such as air conditioners," Mr Cooper said.
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