Western Power has expanded a program of helicopter maintenance work to treat more than 30,000 additional poles across the South West Interconnected System by mid-2027, increasing resilience against pole top fires.
Acting Executive Manager of Asset Management Ben Bristow said the work involves applying a silicone product to insulators via helicopter to reduce dust and pollution build up.
“We’ve seen how effective helicopter-based silicone treatment is as a mitigation technique, particularly in regional areas as assets are spread over a large geographical area and using helicopters enables us to complete the work efficiently and safely,” Mr Bristow said.
“Dust and airborne pollutants accumulate on insulators - particularly during harvest season and in coastal areas - and when combined with light rain or humid conditions, this can cause ‘tracking’, where electricity flows across the surface of the insulator potentially leading to pole-top fires,” he said.
“We also proactively install silicone insulators which are less prone to dust and pollution build up.
“This package of work builds on previously successful helicopter maintenance programs.”
In September last year, Western Power began the treatment of 19,000 poles across the Midwest and Wheatbelt regions and have now expanded that program to include more than 30,000 additional poles throughout the South West and Great Southern as well as some locations in the Midwest and Wheatbelt.
“Once this program of work is complete, more than 90,000 poles will have been treated since September 2023, strengthening the network and enhancing power reliability for homes and businesses.”
The work forms part of Western Power’s broader network resilience program, which aims to improve power reliability across the South-West Interconnected System.
We’re continuously exploring new technologies and techniques including early fault detectors and covered conductors to help reduce the risk of pole top fires and to ensure continued safe and reliable power supply to the community.
To learn more, including where and when work is taking place, visit our Helicopter line maintenance page.