WESTERN POWER — REGIONAL CONSUMERS
805. 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 those in cities and towns in WA.
(1) Prior to and
up to February 2022, what direct consultation did Western Power undertake with
residents and consumers of electricity from the grid regarding the application
of compulsory circuit breakers on rural properties for any switchboard upgrade
or new installation of household solar panels?
(2) How much electricity do regional consumers of
energy use compared with their metropolitan counterparts?
(3) Prior to
February 2022, how many regional electricity consumers had circuit breakers
limited to 32 amps?
(4) Prior to February 2022, how many, and what
percentage of, regional electricity consumers were exceeding their
supply allocation of 32 amps and how were these users notified?
Hon
MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Energy.
Customers who have opted to maintain
the default 32-amp connection are now required to install a circuit breaker for
protection at their main circuit board. Customers who wish to upgrade their
connection can do so, which has always been the case.
(1) Western Power
worked proactively with electrical contractor industry bodies, including the
National Electrical Contractors Association, running a series of industry
workshops and publishing articles in industry
publications to communicate the new requirements. The new basic embedded
generation technical requirements were also communicated to solar
installers and electrical contractors from December 2021 to February 2022,
including the publication of factsheets and frequently asked questions that are
available on the Western Power and Synergy websites.
(2) The
information needed to answer this part of the question was not made available
in time and I ask the member to put it on notice.
(3) Western Power
does not collect information on the exact construction of a customer's
main switchboard and expects electrical contractors and their customers to
follow Australian standards and the requirements in the WA electrical
requirements and the Western Australian service and installation
requirements. This includes the management of maximum demand either by
calculation, measurement or limitation by use of a circuit breaker. If they
have requested a standard connection service of 32 amps, and if the maximum
demand may exceed their requested allocation, electrical contractors are
required by standards to install a circuit breaker.
(4) Western Power
does not collect information on the exact construction of a customer's
main switchboard and expects electrical contractors and their customers to
follow Australian standards and the requirements in the WA electrical
requirements and the Western Australian service and installation
requirements. This includes the management of maximum demand either by
calculation, measurement or limitation by use of a circuit breaker. If they
have requested a standard connection service of 32 amps, and if the maximum
demand may exceed their requested allocation, electrical contractors are
required by standards to install a circuit breaker.