All Products and Services FAQs
Design conformance review (DCR)
All projects – both with or without a third party audit and accompanying certificate of compliance - are required to be submitted to Western Power for a design conformance review.
If a developer chooses to obtain a third party audit, the independent auditor will perform a detailed review of the design and certify that the design is in accordance with Western Power’s design specifications.
This application can then be processed by a separate, dedicated engineering team due to the reduced likelihood of non-conformances and will therefore progress more quickly to quote.
Applications with electrical designs certified by an independent third party auditor have already been checked against Western Power’s design specifications. These applications can be assessed with a risk-based approach, which can significantly accelerate timeframes.
Western Power may still issue non-conformance advice if items requiring attention are identified during the DCR.
Please note: non conformances will impact timeframes.
A certificate of compliance is a document, with supporting documents, prepared by the auditor that certifies the consultant’s design is in strict accordance with Western Power’s design specifications.
The certificate of compliance will be signed by a qualified signing authority within the auditor’s organisation, and supported by design drawings that are dated and signed by the qualified individuals who reviewed the design for compliance. It will also reference any other relevant information relied upon for the audit.
An auditor is a person or organisation engaged by the developer to independently review the design consultant’s design, and ultimately provide a certificate of compliance that this design meets Western Power’s design requirements.
Auditors are usually part of an engineering consulting company and are engineers on the National Engineering Register for electrical and/or civil disciplines. They must have no actual or perceived relationship with the consultant that prepared the design package.
Multiple auditors may be engaged, as required, to interrogate their respective disciplines.
Western Power does not authorise or recommend auditors.
Information about the third party audit process can be found here.
Pre-DCR clearance process
Pre-DCR clearance eligibility is limited to residential subdivisions with electricity infrastructure designed and constructed by the developer’s engaged designers and contractors. These projects follow the Design Information Package (DIP) and DCR processes and are typically, but not always, five lots or more and contain a civil works component.
Western Power designed and constructed subdivision projects (small subdivisions) are not eligible for pre-DCR clearance.
The best option for your project will depend on the stage of your project. The Design Conformance Review (DCR) process has multiple stages. Depending on the complexity of the project, it can sit in one of these stages for a period of time.
Option 1
If the project has progressed and is in the DCR phase but a quote has not been issued, you can choose Option 1. A designer will shortly review the plans for the project.
Option 2
If the project does not have a designer assigned, you can choose to use a third party auditor to supply a certificate of compliance.
If a quote has been issued, the pre-DCR clearance is not applicable as it is already eligible for clearance through the normal process.
Please email planning.land.development.referrals@westernpower.com.au with your WAPC and Project number for a pre-DCR project assessment before submitting an application.
You will receive a Design Conformance Review (DCR) progress report and confirmation if network reinforcement is required on site.
- The following documents are mandatory to proceed with the pre-DCR clearance assessment:
- a signed civil contract for the development
- invoice and/or receipt of purchased materials as evidence of procuring materials for the electrical reticulation for the development
- a completed copy of the Terms & Conditions - signed and dated
- You must choose which execution is applicable to your project, ie pick one or the other. - A certificate of compliance (only if Option 2 is chosen) by someone on the National Engineering Register
An auditor is a person or organisation engaged by the developer to independently review the design consultant’s design, and ultimately provide a certificate of compliance that this design meets Western Power’s design requirements.
Auditors are usually part of an engineering consulting company and are engineers on the National Engineering Register for electrical and/or civil disciplines. They must have no actual or perceived relationship with the consultant that prepared the design package.
Multiple auditors may be engaged, as required, to interrogate their respective disciplines.
A certificate of compliance is a document, with supporting documents, prepared by the auditor that certifies the consultant’s design is in strict accordance with Western Power’s design specifications.
The certificate of compliance will be signed by a qualified signing authority within the auditor’s organisation, and supported by design drawings that are dated and signed by the qualified individuals who reviewed the design for compliance. It will also reference any other relevant information relied upon for the audit.
Once all pre-DCR conditions have been met, you will receive a confirmation email that the project has progressed to the clearance stage.
Once you have submitted all of your documentation and all pre-DCR conditions have been met, it can take up to two business days to progress to clearance.
Once your pre-DCR application has progressed to clearance, it can take an additional 14 days to process. Unless we require further information from you to progress your clearance, we will notify you once clearance is achieved.