The Government of Western Australia has a long-term goal to have at least half the houses in Perth supplied by underground power by 2010, with a corresponding improvement in regional areas of the State.
About 48% of the metropolitan area is now serviced by underground power.
The Underground Power Program is currently in Round Four - read more on about Round Four Major Residential Projects or Round Four Localised Enhancement Projects.
The Government has announced its decision to fund Round Five of the State Underground Power Program from 2010/11. Round Four is currently underway and is expected to be finalised in 2011/12.
The State Underground Power Program Steering Committee is expected to invite all Western Australian local governments to submit expressions of interest for areas to be considered under Round Five in the last quarter of 2009. Guidelines for Round Five will be released with the invitation for expressions of interest.
The closing date for expressions of interest will be early in the second quarter of 2010.
The Steering Committee’s evaluation and development of a short list for recommendation to the Minister for Energy is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2010.
The first local government proposals from the approved short listed are expected to commence their detailed design phase in second quarter of 20011. The physical work of undergrounding should commence on the first of the projects in early 2012.
Round Five is expected to be completed in 2014.
In Western Australia, all new metropolitan developments are required to have underground power. The first Perth subdivision with underground power was developed in 1972 but it was not until 1991 that it became mandatory for new subdivisions in Perth to have underground power.
In 1996, the State Government embarked on a program to convert older residential areas to underground power. The May 1994 storms, resulting in widespread blackouts across Perth, were a significant driver for this multi-million dollar initiative. The Government recognised that placing power cables underground (as opposed to on top of power poles) gave improved security of supply and safety in severe weather conditions.
The report of the inquiry into blackouts following the May 1994 storms found that 80 per cent of damage to power lines was caused by falling trees. While placing distribution lines underground would not eliminate all supply disruptions it would reduce the amount of damage and allow repair crews to concentrate on repairing any damage to the high voltage transmission system, which has more far-reaching effects.
A pilot program was initially conducted to provide technical, financial and administrative experience. This process was managed by the Underground Power Steering Committee, which was established by the Minister for Energy. Pilot projects were undertaken in Albany, Applecross, Cottesloe/Claremont and Wembley over a period from October 1996 to March 1999.
The pilot projects were allocated a total of $24 million from the State Government, Western Power and local government authorities, and saw around 7,000 households and businesses connected to underground power. The pilot program allowed the cost of undergrounding power to be more accurately established and confirmed the advantages of implementing an ongoing program.
On 5 January 1998, the Minister for Energy announced the State's commitment to the ongoing program. Shortly afterwards the process of inviting, assessing and accepting proposals for Round One of the Underground Power Program took place.
Funding for the Underground Power Program is comprised of 25% from the State Government, 25% from Western Power or Horizon Power and 50% from participating local governments.
The projects undertaken in the Underground Power Program are listed below.
Round One | |
| Major Residential Projects | Localised Enhancement Projects |
|---|---|
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Round Two | |
| Major Residential Projects | Localised Enhancement Projects |
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Round Three Projects To Be Undertaken | |
| Major Residential Projects | Localised Enhancement Projects |
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| Round Four Projects to be undertaken | |
| Major Residential Projects | Localised Enhancements Projects |
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Click on the links below to open Fact Sheets about underground power projects:
Click on the links below to open galleries of before and after shots from MRPs and LEPs:
