Consultation
Public consultation is an important part of transparent decision-making. We welcome feedback on the following projects to help determine their direction and ensure we are meeting customer and industry needs.
Powering East Perth
Connecting our customers and communities
Western Power is working to deliver a bright future for East Perth by investing in the electricity network that supplies the community.
Perth is growing rapidly, with new residential developments, commercial spaces and entertainment precincts. Safe, reliable power is vital to support this growth. To meet the changing needs of our customers, we are continually upgrading our electricity infrastructure.
As part of this ongoing improvement, we are our ageing Forrest Avenue Substation (see coloured square on the map below). This means that in early 2022, customers currently supplied with electricity via the Forrest Avenue Substation will instead receive their supply via the recently upgraded Joel Terrace Substation, located near the old East Perth station.
October 2020 update
This project is currently on hold and will recommence in early 2021.
We'll publish future construction dates when they become available.
July 2020 update
With stage one near on completion, Power On Cabling will start Stage 2 of the project in October 2020.
Our original plan for stage 2 was to install new underground cabling along Victory Terrace and Kensington Street. Due to several other utility underground assets in our proposed plan, we can no longer use that route for this stage of the project.
An alternative route with less underground infrastructure will now be used. As shown on the map below, Tully Road and Renaissance Avenue will be used to link back up to Kensington Street. All affected residents and businesses along the line route have been notified of the upcoming works.
About the project
The project involves installing six underground cables between the Forrest Avenue Substation and Joel Terrace Substation.
- Underground ducts are already installed to contain two of these cables, as indicated by the orange line in the map.
- The remaining four cables will be installed in new ducts along a separate cable route through a narrow open trench, as indicated by the line route on the map below.
The work to excavate the trench and to install the cable will be completed in short sections to minimise impact on residents, businesses and road users. After the work is complete, we will reinstate the area to equal or better than original condition. This will also comply with local government and Main Roads requirements.
We are in consultation with the City of Perth, City of Vincent, Public Transport Authority and Main Roads WA to determine the best way to carry out the work with the least disruption and to obtain all the necessary approvals.
Expected timing
- Stage 1. Start Joel Terrace, Summers Street to East Perth Power Station – 6 weeks
- Stage 2. Jewell Lane, Tully Rd, Renaissance Ave, Kensington Street to the corner of East Parade – 5 weeks
- Stage 3. Corner of Kensington Street and East Parade to Fielder Street – 4 weeks
- Stage 4. Fielder Street, Brown Street, Glyde Street to Brook Street – 3 weeks
- Stage 5. Brook Street, Royal Street, Leahy Walk to Wittenoom Street – 3 weeks
- Stage 6. Wittenoom Street, Plain Street to Wellington Street – 3 weeks
- Stage 7. Wellington Street, Forrest Avenue and Waterloo Crescent – 3 weeks
- Stage 8. Waterloo Crescent, Trafalgar Road, Royal Street, Plain Street to Kensington Street – 3 weeks
- Stage 9. Under Graham Farmer Freeway – 3 weeks
Example of open trench excavation
How this work may affect you
We will work hard to keep disruptions to a minimum, however you may notice the following during works in your area:
- some noise for short periods
- parking bay closures and parking restrictions
- some traffic lane closures, with lower speed limits in place to ensure safety
- some night and weekend work to minimise disruption to traffic and some businesses.
The work to excavate the trench and install the cable will be completed in short sections to minimise impact on residents, businesses and road users.
Our partner
Power On Cabling will be undertaking the work on behalf of Western Power.
They have been providing specialist construction services to the energy industry since 2008.
Power On Cabling has completed similar projects throughout Claremont, Nedlands and Cottlesloe and in the Perth CBD.
More information
- Project brochure: Powering East Perth
- For further project information, please email us or call (08) 9326 4850
- Urgent out of hours contact: 13 13 51
- If you have a speech or hearing difficulty, contact us through the National Relay Service: 1800 13 13 51
- Interpreter Services: 13 14 50
Perth City Link
Connecting our customers and communities
The Perth Central Business District is rapidly expanding, with 14,000 businesses, 24,000 residents, 134,000 workers and 2.4 million visitors per year! We are supporting DevelopmentWA to deliver a bright future for the City by investing in the electricity network that supplies our city.
As the city grows, with new residential developments, commercial spaces and entertainment precincts, so does the need for power.
DevelopmentWA’s Perth City Link development requires new electricity infrastructure to support the future power needs of the city. Due to be completed in late 2020 this Western Power project is helping to deliver a lasting, reliable power supply to Perth CBD.
About the project
The project involves installing underground cable routes between our Cook Street substation and the Perth City Link development lots on Wellington Street. The 2.8 km cable route (as shown on the map below) will extend along Hay, Havelock, Wellington and Outram Streets in West Perth.
The underground cable route (conduit) will be installed through a narrow open trench. The work to excavate the trench and to install the conduit will be completed in short sections to minimise impact on road users, residents and businesses.
We have been in consultation with DevelopmentWA, City of Perth, Public Transport Authority and Main Roads WA to determine the best way to carry out the work with the least disruption and to obtain the necessary approvals.
Expected Timing
- Hay Street between Outram and Colin - 30 December 2019 to 12 January 2020
- Hay Street between Colin and Havelock - 13 January 2020 to 24 January 2020
- Havelock Street between Hay and Murray - 28 January 2020 to 5 February 2020
- Havelock Street between Murray and Wellington - 6 February 2020 to 14 February 2020
- Wellington Street (south side) between Havelock and Sutherland - 17 February 2020 to 20 February 2020 (night works)
- Wellington Street (south side) between Sutherland and Gordon - 21 February 2020 to 28 February 2020
Have your say
Complete our short online survey about the impact of our work on you business or residence to help shape the way we conduct this work and minimise inconvenience.
Our partners
Western Power is working closely with the DevelopmentWA to support their vision for the Perth City Link project.
Our construction partner is Cabling WA. We will work together to keep you up to date with progress. Cabling WA has more than 11 years of experience delivering specialist construction services to the energy infrastructure industry.
More information
- Project brochure: Connecting our customers and communities
- Community Engagement team: 9326 4850 (office hours)
- Urgent out of hours contact: 13 13 51
- If you have a speech or hearing difficulty, contact us through the National Relay Service: 1800 13 13 51
- Interpreter Services: 13 14 50
Technical Rules Review
We are undertaking a review of the Technical Rules.
Since its first publication in 2007, the Rules have undergone several amendments, with the most recent in December 2016. Whilst the Rules were appropriate at the time of commencement, the energy market has changed significantly since they were first published, and the Rules are now overdue for a review. The main gaps include, lack of:
- clarity on the roles and responsibilities of AEMO and Western Power
- requirements to address the changing needs of the System – e.g. system strength, inertia
- flexibility in customer connections
- consideration for emerging technologies
- consideration for non-traditional network or supply options (microgrids, standalone power systems)
- consideration for the latest standards and industry practices
- robust compliance framework
- easier process for rule change
The gaps are felt by customers, WP and the AEMO and its need for a review is also recognised by the wider industry including the ERA and Energy Policy WA (formerly the Public Utilities Office). As part of the Energy Transformation Strategy the Energy Transformation Implementation Unit (ETIU) will address the required changes in regulations and codes to bring efficiencies in Technical Rules governance process and the compliance framework. Western Power is working with the ETIU and AEMO to support the changes in the Technical Rules and this review forms part of that work.
For further information on the work undertaken by the Energy Transformation Taskforce refer to the Energy Transformation Policy.
The review is undertaken in two stages:
Stage 1: Move Generator Performance Guidelines (GPG) to the Wholesale Electricity Market Rules
This concerns the performance requirements for transmission connected market participating generators, moving out the Technical Rules into the Wholesale Electricity Market Rules (WEMR). The transition is expected to be formalised before December 2020. For further information on the WEMR consultation process refer to the Energy Transformation Implementation Unit’s (ETIU)Taskforce website:
Stage 2: Review Chapters 1 to 5 of the Technical Rules.
The proposed date for submission to the Energy Regulation Authority (ERA) for approval is by the 31 July 2021.
Western Power welcomes feedback from the public/customers on their felt experience or suggestions for improvement in relation to ‘User’ requirements in chapters 1, 3 and 4 of the Technical Rules.
Western Power welcomes feedback from the public/customers on their felt experience or suggestions for improvement in relation to ‘User’ requirements in chapters 1, 3 and 4 of the Technical Rules.
Feedback can be sent to: technical.rules.review@westernpower.com.au
The closing date for input is 30 April 2021