Western Australia possesses abundant fossil fuel resources, particularly coal and natural gas. Black coal accounts for around 49 per cent of total fossil fuel resources within the State, with natural gas accounting for around 40 per cent and growing as more resources are identified.
Coal is mined in the Collie basin in the States South West and is used for domestic use only, mainly for electricity generation. Efforts are also being made to develop an export market for Western Australian coal.
Natural gas is used domestically, principally in resource processing and electricity generation, and is also exported in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The major fields producing natural gas are located within the Carnarvon basin in the State's North West, although domestic gas is also sourced from the Perth Basin.
The diverse environment across the State also provides the opportunity to harness hydro, solar, wind, tidal and biomass as principal renewable energy resources.
The Western Power Corporation was restructured into four separate corporations on 31 March 2006:
Synergy - responsible for the sale of electricity within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) - the area bound by Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie and Albany;
Horizon Power - the regional business responsible for the generation, transport and sale of electricity in areas outside of the SWIS;
Verve Energy - responsible for power generation within the SWIS; and
Western Power - responsible for operating, maintaining and expanding the electrical transmission and distribution network in the SWIS.
A number of private companies throughout the State also generate electricity, although some companies do so primarily to supply their own mining, mineral processing or other operations. In 2004, private generation accounted for about 45 per cent of total electricity generation capacity within the State. Synergy and Horizon Power are currently the major suppliers of electricity to the residential and commercial markets, though other suppliers are competing for contestable customers. Contestable customers are those who use more than 50 MWh per year (equating to an annual electricity bill of about $8,000). Other electricity suppliers are listed in the Electricity section of the web site.
Alinta is currently the major supplier of natural gas to the residential and commercial markets in the States South West. Gas Full Retail Contestability was introduced in Western Australia on 31 May 2004 and gives all gas customers the ability to choose their own gas supplier. Other gas suppliers are listed in the Gas section of the web site.
There are three major electricity networks in WA. These are the South West Interconnected System, North West Interconnected System and Esperance System as shown on the Energy Resources and Infrastructure Map (A4 size - PDF). While there are some privately owned electricity transmission and distribution networks within the State, primarily in the Pilbara, Western Power (SWIS) and Horizon Power (non-SWIS) own the major electricity networks supplying the public. Horizon Power also owns and operates 28 isolated power systems.
There are currently four major natural gas transmission pipelines supplying the Western Australian gas market:
Other major downstream transmission pipelines include the Kambalda to Esperance Gas Pipeline, the Mid West Pipeline and the Telfer Gas Pipeline. All gas pipelines are shown on the Energy Resources and Infrastructure Map (A4 size PDF File).
