Working group to champion smarter energy use in Denmark/Walpole
Release Date: 01 April 2008
Western Power has established its first community working group to take a more collaborative approach to addressing power capacity needs and energy efficiency.
The South Coast Power Working Group (SCPWG) was formed in mid-2007 with key Great Southern community stakeholders, including the Shires of Denmark and Manjimup and is examining options to support growth in Denmark and Walpole.
Western Power is working with the group to explore alternative energy solutions for the longer term. The group is looking at a range of technical alternatives and techniques to influence power-use patterns of behaviour in the interest of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Western Power's Managing Director, Mr Doug Ablerle, will hold a media conference to discuss the South Coast Power Working Group on April 1 at 2.15 pm at the Great Southern Development Commission, Pyrmont House, 110 Serpentine Rd, Albany.
Mr Aberle said Western Power remained committed to carrying out a $14 million program of works to improve power quality and increase the amount of capacity available in Denmark and Walpole, but recognised the local appetite for more innovative thinking.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with the community to explore alternative energy solutions in addition to the traditional poles and wires approach."
"Electricity networks are built to provide for peak use times, even if those times occur for only a few hours a year.
"By spreading this power use over twelve or even twenty four hours the need to build more infrastructure can be reduced," he said.
The SCPWG will introduce a range of initiatives including household appliance auditing, replacing traditional light globes with energy efficient globes and educating locals and visitors about ways to help better manage their electricity use.
"Balancing the reliability of power supply, with local tourism, growth and environmental concerns are important issues for the Denmark and Walpole community," Mr Aberle said.
"The South Coast Power Working Group provides us with an opportunity to work together to address these concerns in planning for growth now and in the future."
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