Western Power has expressed confidence that a package of measures adopted in recent months have put it in a substantially better position to meet demand this summer compared to last summer when it was forced to introduce power restrictions.
The latest measure, at a cost of $7.2 million, is an upgrade of the transmission lines to the Parkeston power station in the Goldfields.
Western Power is negotiating a power-purchase agreement with Parkeston’s owners Trans Alta Energy and Newmont Australia to provide about 35 megawatts of electricity at times of high demand. It is also renting extra gas turbines and installing cooling sprays at the Pinjar power station, collectively providing another 110 megawatts of generating capacity.
Preparations for this summer were affected by industrial action at the Muja power station.
However, managing director Tony Iannello said changes to the maintenance schedule and the hiring of extra contractors meant Western Power was expecting to complete all of its work ahead of the summer months.
However he conceded there was no contingency for the unexpected.
To deal with any shortfall in gas supplies through the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline, Western Power has negotiated an agreement to purchase extra gas from Wesfarmers LNG plant at Kwinana and has stockpiled oil for its Kwinana power station.
As well as preparing for summer, Western Power is still in tariff negotiations with the preferred bidder for the Dampier pipeline.
Mr Iannello said he wanted to ensure the ownership of the pipeline, which includes arch rival Alinta, does not disadvantage Western Power.
