The latest information on the Office of Energy's electricity industry projects, policies and industry organisations is available in this Electricity section of the website. Follow the links in the left hand navigation bar to read more on electricity issues:
Electricity Reform
Key reform achievements in the Government's successful Electricity Reform program include:
Wholesale Electricity Market
A core element of the government's agenda is the establishment of a Wholesale Electricity Market for the South West Interconnected System. The Wholesale Electricity Market commenced trading electricity operation on 21 September 2006 and provides a mechanism for industry participants to trade in electricity. Read more >>
Ministerial Advisory Committee
The Minister for Energy has established the Ministerial Advisory Committee to provide him with independent advice on the adequacy of electricity supply to consumers, particularly the reliability and quality of supply. Read more >>
Network Reliability & Quality of Supply Code
Western Australia’s State Government is reforming our electricity industry to achieve an efficient, sustainable and competitive electricity supply to support our vibrant economy and lifestyle into the future. As part of the electricity reforms electricity supply standards have been reviewed and have been expanded into a new Network Quality and Reliability of Supply Code. Read more >>
Electricity Access Regime
The Office of Energy administers the Electricity Industry Act 2004 under which the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 (the Access Code) operates. The Access Code establishes a framework for third party access to electricity transmission and distribution networks with the objective of promoting the economically efficient investment in, and operation and use of, networks and services of networks inWestern Australia in order to promote competition in markets upstream and downstream of the networks. Read more >>
Regional Power Procurement Process
To reduce electricity generation costs in regional Western Australia, a series of power procurement processes have been conducted since 1998. This process included a competitive tender process to contract Independent Power Producers to supply bulk electricity to Western Power for distribution to its customers. The procurement process also provided an opportunity to benefit from new technology and fuel sources in these regions. Read more >>
Renewable Power
Increasing renewable energy in the State's main electricity grid is the focus of a report released on 22 May 2006 by the Minister for Energy. The report, 'Maximising the penetration of intermittent generation in the SWIS', resulted from a Government-commissioned independent study into increasing the ability of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) to accept higher levels of energy from generators who use renewable resources. Read more >>
Activities Requiring Authorisation
The requirement for proponents to obtain the approval of the Coordinator of Energy for any new power station, transmission system or interconnection of a power station to a distribution system of Western Power or of a supply authority has ceased, with the repeal of Section 7 of the Electricity Act 1945. Read more >>
