Western Power

WA’s South West could require up to 51 gigawatts of new energy generation and storage capacity to meet the needs of industry over the next 20 years, a state government study has concluded.

The Economic Regulation Authority has knocked back a proposal by Western Power to jack up street light costs that would likely have been passed on to residents.

Over three decades, the state's energy system has gone greener and more private investment has been welcomed.

The state government’s $80 million infrastructure fund is being rolled out to help apartment developers pay for utility connections on their sites.

Collie is set to have two large-scale battery energy storage systems, with French renewable energy company Neoen proceeding with construction of a 219 megawatt unit.

The state government will invest more than $148 million in 40 projects state-wide, with DUG Technology, Austin Engineering, Kimberley Cotton Company and Stanley International College among the winners.

State-owned energy retailer Synergy has recorded a before tax loss of $732.6 million last financial year, attributed to contracts where expenses exceed economic benefit.

Government-owned electricity network utility Western Power has expanded its board of directors by two, as it navigates the state’s energy transition.

Western Power has been fined $80,000 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure network safety, after confessing it was aware of the issue that caused the Wheatbelt bushfire.

The power plant that supported Kalgoorlie during last week’s power outage was, in 2023, rejected by the state government in favour of its own facility, which tripped when it was needed.

The pathways to access power supply on new residential subdivisions will be simplified by the WA government, in a move designed to accelerate project delivery and shorten a growing waitlist.

Infrastructure WA has expressed doubt over Western Power’s ability to deliver a series of critical upgrades to the northern part of the South West Interconnected System by 2027.

Western Power will contract emergency power support from third parties in the Goldfields, as it seeks to avoid a repeat of the disruption caused by severe outages in January.

Government utility Western Power has defended large forecast hikes to discontinued tariffs still applied to some business customers, as it continues moves to reform its product offering.

Industrial developers are waiting for up to two years to have their projects connected to the grid, prompting calls for change.

A record $12.1 billion will be spent through the state’s asset investment program in 2024-25, part of a $42.2 billion outlay forecast over the four years to the end of 2028.

Western Power customers will pay an extra 9.5 per cent on average for services in the coming financial year, after the utility’s proposed price structure got a conditional regulatory tick.

Commercial property developers are at boiling point with Western Power connection delays, citing the backlog as a major project feasibility concern.

Engineering firm UGL will undertake a major power network maintenance and upgrade program for Western Power under a $125 million deal announced on Friday.

Synergy has revealed it breached its licence almost 100 times between February last year and April 2024, by failing to properly handle contact details for 68 customers using life support equipment.

The Economic Regulation Authority is hopeful a new Western Power process introduced this week will clear a backlog of large customer connections to the utility’s network.

GenusPlus Group has extended its close working relationship with Western Power, after securing a significant maintenance and upgrade works program with the company.

Western Power chief executive Sam Barbaro has told an energy forum that Collie would be a logical home for a nuclear plant in the state, but says renewables are the priority for the grid.

Mark Beyer and Jack McGinn discuss the major findings from the domestic gas inquiry; Collgar's wind farm plan; Western Power's nuclear stance; Pilbara energy enablers; Perdaman's Karratha plan; the price of iron ore; Nicheliving's woes and Sanur's Subi battle; Vern Wheatley's legacy, and preview the upcoming edition of the Business News magazine.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA says investment on the scale of Metronet is needed to get the state’s main energy grid running on renewables reliably and affordably.

The building and energy department has fined the government-owned utility, following an electric shock in Manning.

Renewable energy giant Neoen has joined a long list of companies aiming to develop wind farms in WA’s South West, though none are currently under construction.

Flooding has closed Western Power’s Wellington Street office indefinitely, displacing workers as the utility prepares for a peak period across the state’s main electricity grid.

Belmont-based GenusPlus Group has been awarded the $270 million contract to build the first stages of the Clean Energy Link.

The emergency department at St John of God Subiaco could be delayed up to two years after an application to extend the project’s stage three start deadline was submitted.

Western Power will get a $20.8 million cash injection from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, as part of its major push to integrate household generation into the state’s grid.

Perth property developers continue to grapple with Western Power connection delays, while the utility insists work is underway to clear backlogs and improve timelines.

Perth company WestGen has dropped its plan for a solar farm near Byford and instead is aiming to build a 40-megawatt battery energy storage system on the same site.

Frontier Energy has appointed former Western Power chief executive Guy Chalkley as its non-executive chair, following an appointment of Mark McGowan that was ultimately never ratified.

WA Labor plans to spend $75 million establishing two Western Power factories to manufacture equipment such as power poles and power lines in tandem with private industry.

Premier Roger Cook says the government will work with the business community around potential support for those impacted by a spate of power outages across the state today.

Western Power has been handed a $220,000 fine after two people received electric shocks after incorrect wiring wasn’t fixed at a nearby home.

Employees from Shell, Chevron, Deloitte and Western Power will be playing at Amplifier Bar to raise funds for Perth Children's Hospital Foundation.

The future shape of WA’s energy market has become a little clearer this year, but there are many pieces needed to finish the puzzle.

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has called on WA’s fledgling hydrogen sector to disregard a drop-off in sentiment and push ahead with project development.