WESTERN POWER — SUPPLY ALLOCATION
852. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to Western Power's
supply allocation of 32 amps for single-phase rural residential properties in
WA versus 63 amps for cities and towns in
WA, and to public comments by the Minister for Energy saying that he
commissioned a report from Western Power on the problem, which Western
Power has alternatively said in correspondence was to be received by the end of
September 2022 or the end of the year.
(1) When is the Western Power
review due to be handed to the minister?
(2) When will the review be made
public?
(3) When will action be taken on
the review?
(4) Does this
confusion support Western Power's media statement of 29 August 2022 on
this issue that stated, ''This has caused some confusion and concern in �
the community,'' and does the minister agree?
Hon
MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer is based on information provided to me by
the Minister for Energy.
(1) The minister is scheduled to be
briefed this week on the results of Western Power's review.
(2)–(3) Actions
will be determined once the minister has been briefed, and are expected to be
taken by the end of the year.
(4) It is not
clear what confusion the member is referring to in his question. New customer
mains protection requirements were introduced
through the Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements in August
2021, which were the subject of proactive industry communications by Western
Power. The feedback to which the member refers was not received until July
2022, with the confusion and concern noted in the community. The minister
requested that Western Power review the matter, and this has now been
completed.