Question On Notice No. 2773 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 February 2020 by Hon Martin Aldridge
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Energy
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 3683-
View tabled paper
Question
I refer to an unplanned power outage in the early hours of 6 December 2019 affecting the localities of Gingin, Lennard Brook, Coonabidgee, Muckenburra, Ginginup, Granville, Moondah, Bambun, Beermullah, Mooliabeenee, Cullulla, Bindoon and Yeal, and I ask:
(a) at what time on 6 December 2019 did the outage occur;
(b) when did Western Power first become aware of the fault and how was it informed of the fault;
(c) at what time on 6 December 2019 and by what means was the cause of the fault identified;
(d) what was the location and nature of the fault identified;
(e) how many Western Power customers were affected by the outage;
(f) how many hours were the customers identified in (5) without power;
(g) how many claims for an extended power outage were received and paid arising from this fault;
(h) did a Department Fire Emergency Services declared Total Fire Ban (TFB) have an impact on restoration of the fault, if so please identify how it contributed to any delays in restoration;
(i) did a local government Harvest, Hot Works and Vehicle Movement Ban have an impact on restoration of the fault, if so, please identify how it contributed to any delays in restoration;
(j) does Western Power possess an exemption with respect to either of the two restrictions identified in (h-i);
(k) what was the Fire Danger Rating (FDR) on 6 December 2019 and did that impact on restoration of the fault, if so, please identify how it contributed to any delays in restoration;
(l) was a TFB Workplace Risk Assessment Plan (WRAP) completed in relation to this work, and if not, why not;
(m) please table the TFB WRAP relevant to this fault;
(n) did Network Operations complete and submit the Fire weather day and TFB risk management form F317 in accordance with SOP 164, and if not, why not;
(o) please table the form submitted as identified in (n); and
(p) please table SOP 164?
Answered on 17 March 2020
(a) 3:58am
(b) 3.58am. Western Power’s Network Control room was alerted via SCADA alarm and automatically generated Trouble Call System incident
(c) No cause was found
(d) No cause was found
(e) 841 customers were impacted by the outage
(f) 681 customers – 13.5 hours
160 customers – 4.25 hours
Some patrolling was completed prior to risk period allowing partial restoration
(g) 167 claims have been approved and paid
(h) Yes, a Total Fire Ban was declared. However, given the ‘severe’ Fire Danger Index on this day, Western Power implemented its ‘Fire Weather Day’ protocols that are designed to reduce the risk of starting a bushfire. Western Power would have taken this step regardless of the TFB, as safety of the community and the network are its highest priority.
(i) Yes, a Vehicle Movement Ban was declared. However, given the ‘severe’ Fire Danger Index on this day, Western Power implemented its ‘Fire Weather Day’ protocols that are designed to reduce the risk of starting a bushfire. Western Power would have taken this step regardless of the VMB, as safety of the community and the network are its highest priority.
(j) Yes, but only to Total Fire Bans
(k) The Fire Danger Rating was ‘severe’ at Fire Danger Index 62 Grassland Fire Danger Index 50 and was not predicted to drop to a safe level (below 32) until after 5:00pm
(l) Yes, a WRAP was completed
(m) [see tabled paper no ]
(n) Yes, this is standard practice for a Fire Weather Day/Total Fire Ban day, and has to be complete by an authorised controller and co-signed by a seconded authorised controller
(o) [see tabled paper no ]
(p) [see tabled paper no ]