- Western Power secures agreement with eight local government authorities
- Up to 50,000 WA homes and businesses in line for underground power supply
Eight Western Australian local governments have committed to Western Power's Targeted Underground Power Program, which will provide up to 50,000 WA properties with a future-focused, safer, and more reliable power supply solution.
Residents and businesses in the cities of Bayswater, Canning, Melville, Stirling, Swan, and Vincent and towns of Bassendean and Victoria Park will be part of the 50,000 following the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Western Power to support undergrounding within their local government areas (LGA).
The areas identified in these LGAs are based on Western Power's network driven approach, which prioritises parts of suburbs with large clusters of aging overhead infrastructure requiring renewal.
The MOUs formalise the intent of Western Power and the LGAs regarding collaboration and development of the co-funded projects.
Scoping and planning works for some projects have begun with construction of the first two projects in Bassendean north and Willagee set to begin in April 2024.
More than 100,000 properties in the South West Interconnected System have been converted from overhead distribution power lines to underground power since 1996.
For more information about underground power projects, visit: https://www.westernpower.com.au/community/work-in-your-area/underground-power/
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
"Undergrounding provides many benefits including improved public safety, reliability, security and street appearance while increasing property values and reducing the need for street tree pruning. It also provides cost efficiencies as there are lower life-cycle costs and enables greater use of emerging technologies such as electric vehicles.
"Importantly, it creates safer environments with better lighting from efficient new LED streetlights.
"Western Power's underground power programs are a significant enhancement to the electricity network and ensure our State Government continues to meet the energy needs of the community now and in the future."
