Energy Minister Bill Johnston has announced that the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) will have a standard power supply allocation to meet the changing energy needs of Western Australians.
According to the State Government, Western Power will start offering a standard connection service capacity of 63-amps for small-use, single-phase connections regardless of location to ensure the same allocation for all homes and businesses across the network.
The increase in power supply for SWIS comes after Western Power conducted a test to see if it could establish a standardised supply allocation and manage it safely and reliably for the benefit of the community.
The single standard supply system will enable the greater electrification and uptake of renewables and aligns with State/National compliance frameworks, including Australian standards.
The trial enabled the installation of a 63-amp rated main switch circuit breaker for all new single-phase connections to the network or when altering an existing electrical installation.
The five-month trial involved seven regional local government areas to ensure a representative sample of a diverse range of rural customers with varying energy needs.
Data from 140,000 single-phase meters across the network was analysed to understand load demand and network usage in metro and rural areas, which showed that existing electrical infrastructures could accommodate increased rural load requirements.
According to Minister Johnston, the new standard showcases Western Power’s commitment to transforming the network to better facilitate the growth of renewables and electrification.
“Western Power has successfully undertaken a trial to test this and ensure network infrastructure is built for increased rural loads,” he added.
Minister Johnston noted that the assessment used Advanced Meter Infrastructure data to confirm that a standardised connection service can be used across the network “safely and reliably.”
“We’ve listened to the community and sought advice on how we can best serve the power supply demands of Western Australians now and in the future,” Minister Johnston said.
