Western Power is investing $1.2M towards an alternative back-up power solution to improve power reliability for the Bremer Bay community.
Western Power Executive Manager of Asset Management Gair Landsborough said the business had been listening to the community’s concerns following recent unplanned power outages.
“We understand the community’s frustration and are currently exploring solutions to improve reliability including $1.2M towards an alternative back-up power solution,” Mr Landsborough said.
“We’ll be engaging the commercial market to provide an increased capacity back-up power supply via Expression of Interest and Request for Tender later this year.
“In the meantime, we’ve implemented additional measures to improve network performance including a full patrol of the local network, undertaking maintenance and upgrades, and the installation of a switch that can be operated remotely from our Network Operations Centre.
“This switch on the Point Henry line enables us to isolate the abalone farms, which have their own back-up generation, providing us with greater flexibility to manage load and distribute power supply during an unplanned outage.”
Mr Landsborough said the Bremer Bay area has increased demand over the summer holidays and Easter period, which had meant in the event of an unplanned outage only part of the town could be supplied by the backup power station.
“The installation of this switch, along with new fault detection devices that facilitate quicker power restoration through direct communication with our Network Operations Centre, and enhanced vegetation inspections provide us with confidence that homes and businesses will see improvements.
“A lot of the network runs through terrain with limited visibility, so we’ve scaled up line patrols on the ground and via thermal drones to identify any equipment requiring replacement.”
“In the coming months we’ll be holding a drop-in session for the community so we can directly engage with them and share ideas,” Mr Landsborough said.
“We’re working hard to improve network resilience and reliability for the Bremer Bay community.”
The 180km overhead feeder from Albany substation that supplies Bremer Bay is subject to various bushfire, vegetation and weather impacts. Currently, in the event of an unplanned outage on this main feeder line, the community is supported via back-up supply from Bremer Bay Power Station, with phased restoration prioritising the townsite.
If fault is between the backup generator and the townsite, the generator cannot provide power supply to the community. In these instances, our Network Control Centre investigates which parts of the network can be safely restored and which require an inspection/patrol by crews on the ground before restoration can begin.