Bremer Bay community updates

We understand that outages have caused real frustration for homes and businesses in Bremer Bay. Here you’ll find information on how your local electricity supply works today, why interruptions can occur, and the improvements already in progress to improve reliability and network resilience. 

Bremer Bay is supplied by:

• A single 180 km rural overhead line from Albany Substation to Bremer Bay
• The local diesel power station (BBPS): 4 × 320 kW generators, 600 kW wind turbine

Why outages happen

Bremer Bay sits at the far end of a 180-kilometre rural distribution feeder line. Storm-blown branches, wildlife, or bushfire conditions anywhere along that span can trip the line and interrupt supply to the whole town. Patrols and repairs take time because crews must travel long distances on rural roads. 

• Severe weather
  High winds can throw branches and other debris onto powerlines. During storm events our priority is to make hazards safe, often in difficult conditions that slow patrols and repairs. Some equipment, such as elevated work platforms, can’t be used until winds ease. 
• Bushfire season
  In summer we set the network to more sensitive protection levels. Power will stay off after a fault until a patrol confirms it is safe to re-energise, reducing the risk of starting a fire but sometimes increasing outage length. Sometimes this may impact whether back-up power can be supplied from Bremer Bay Power Station. 

The BBPS houses four diesel generators (rated at 320 kW each) and a 600 kW hill-top wind turbine that operates when conditions allow. In the event of an outage, when the main feeder is safely isolated, these generators can re-energise the town.

What the backup power station can – and can't – do

The power station can only run when the fault is on the feeder line. If the fault occurs in or close to town, the backup power supply can’t be started straight away. Switching the power station on in these circumstances could push electricity back into the damaged section of line, risking safety and further damage.

If supply is interrupted, the network control team first isolates parts of the network remotely. We rapidly assess alarms and telemetry to determine the location of the fault and whether it is safe to start the backup power station. If the fault is closer to homes or businesses, we wait for ground crews to confirm it is safe before starting. 

We’re working hard to improve network resilience and reliability for the Bremer Bay community:

• Installing key equipment – to detect faults and restore power more efficiently when supply is interrupted.  
• Remote switch on the Point Henry line – operated from our Network Operations Centre, it lets us isolate the abalone farms (which have their own backup generation) and keep more power available for the township during feeder outages.
• Vegetation patrols – extra inspections and trimming along high-risk spans before the next storm and bushfire seasons. 
• Improved SMS alerts.

Community session – coming soon

We’re planning a drop-in community session in the coming months so you can speak directly with our team, ask questions and share ideas. Details will be published here once confirmed.

Staying informed

• Sign up for outage SMS alerts or view live status at westernpower.com.au/outages.
• Follow Western Power on Facebook  for real-time posts during severe-weather events. 

Tips to prepare in the event of an unplanned outage

• Keep phones and battery packs charged when severe-weather warnings are issued.
• Install surge-protected power boards for sensitive equipment.
• Businesses: review staffing and refrigeration plans for long-weekend peaks.
• Never connect portable generators to house wiring without a licensed electrician.