Rural power improvement program
The $60 million, five year Rural Power Improvement Program (RPIP) was launched in 2004 as part of the State Government’s commitment to improving the reliability and quality of electricity to rural Western Australian communities connected to the South West Interconnected System.
The program will improve reliability for about 43,000 rural customers by reducing the frequency and duration of power interruptions.
The program focuses on areas where the number and duration of power interruptions are high and aims to:
- Reduce the number of customers affected by individual faults.
- Reduce the time needed to locate and isolate faults, and reduce the time to restore power to affected customers.
- Strengthen the rural network by improving existing powerlines and installing new powerlines and equipment.
- The program is being delivered in two phases.
Phase one
Phase one, carried out in 2004/05, focused on low-cost, high-impact equipment upgrades to improve fault detection and help locate and isolate problem areas. These upgrades included installing:
- Section switches. These are the building blocks of the distribution network and allow Western Power to divide powerlines into sections, so a problem can be isolated and allow the surrounding lines to get power from a neighbouring part of the network.
- Remote communications devices. These allow Western Power to remotely monitor and control equipment in the network. They provide more accurate identification of faults helping crews identify and carry the appropriate equipment.
- Reclosers. These allow power to be interrupted momentarily when interference is detected on a powerline. If the interference is transient, such as when a branch is blown across a line and then falls to the ground, the recloser will restore power almost immediately once the debris is clear of the line. This equipment significantly reduces the length of a power interruption to the customers being supplied by the powerline.
Minor distribution powerline upgrades were also completed in this phase.
Phase two
Phase two of the program is being undertaken in 2005/06 and 2006/07. It will focus on upgrading specific rural lines by providing additional capacity and backup capability to the areas they serve.
In 2005/06 the program will benefit customers in Dongara, Kalbarri, Merredin, Dandaragan, Watheroo, Narrogin and Collie.
Some of the major RPIP projects being delivered in 2005/06 include:
- A new 53 km extension of the Narngulu West feeder to provide a second feeder supply into the Dongara area.
- Extension of the Northampton/Kalbarri feeder from Horrocks to Pt Gregory to supply growing loads in the Pt Gregory and Kalbarri areas.
- Line upgrade works in Dandaragan, Watheroo, Narrogin, Wagin and Collie.
- Steel reinforcing for approximately 7000 poles in Merredin, Nungarrin, Burracoppin, Nareembeen, Dalwalinu, Latham, New Norcia, Jurien, Dandaragan and Watheroo.
Program progress
Western Power reports on the program’s progress on a quarterly basis. Further details about the RPIP are available in the following pdf documents:
Quarterly reports
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Jan - June 2007 (PDF 367kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Oct - Dec 2006 (PDF 367kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Apr - Sep 2006 (PDF 310kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Jan - Mar 2006 (PDF 461kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Oct - Dec 2005 (PDF 151kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Jul – Sept 2005 (PDF 129kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Apr – Jun 2005 (PDF 270kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Jan – Feb 2005 (PDF 230kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Oct – Dec 2004 (PDF 60kb)
- RPIP Quarterly Report, Jul – Sept 2004 (PDF 61kb)
