PERTH, 26 February 2026 – Western Power continues to navigate a complex landscape of infrastructure modernisation and grid reliability as Western Australia’s energy transition accelerates. As a State Government-owned corporation, the utility is currently balancing the maintenance of its vast traditional network with the urgent requirements of the “Clean Energy Link” and large-scale battery integrations.
Current Grid Status and Recent Developments
While the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) remains stable today, the network has faced significant pressure over the recent summer period. Following the “summer storm chaos” in late 2025, which left over 30,000 residents without power, Western Power has been under increased scrutiny regarding its maintenance schedules and emergency response capabilities.
In a major boost to grid firming, a development application was submitted yesterday for a massive 1GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Baldivis. This 250MW project is expected to provide critical support to Western Power’s network, helping to manage the intermittency of renewable energy sources and reduce the risk of localized outages during peak demand.
Corporate Profile and Governance
Western Power is one of three major state-owned entities involved in the Western Australian electricity supply chain. Unlike Synergy, which handles generation and retail, Western Power is specifically responsible for the “poles and wires”—the transmission and distribution infrastructure that connects power sources to homes and businesses.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Ownership | WA State Government (Government-owned corporation) |
| Primary Region | South West Interconnected System (SWIS) |
| Regulator | Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) |
| Core Responsibility | Building, maintaining, and operating the electricity network |
| Key Infrastructure | Transmission lines, substations, and distribution poles |
Regional Challenges: The Goldfields and Beyond
Reliability in regional hubs remains a primary concern for the utility. Throughout late 2025, Kalgoorlie-Boulder experienced multiple total blackouts, including a significant event in September caused by a failure in backup generation during routine maintenance. These disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of aging infrastructure in mining-heavy regions, where power stability is critical for mineral processing and local industry.
To combat these issues, Western Power is increasingly looking toward predictive maintenance technologies. New initiatives are being trialled to monitor grid health remotely, reducing the need for manual inspections across the vast distances of the WA outback.
Public Sentiment and Infrastructure Debate
Public discourse regarding Western Power has recently focused on the resilience of overhead power lines. Following recent storm-related outages, there has been renewed community pressure to transition toward underground power, particularly in established Perth suburbs. While undergrounding significantly reduces weather-related faults, the high capital cost remains a point of contention between the utility, local councils, and the Economic Regulation Authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Western Power?
Western Power is a government-owned corporation, held by the State Government of Western Australia on behalf of the people of WA.
What is the difference between Western Power and Synergy?
Western Power manages the physical infrastructure (the network of poles and wires), while Synergy is responsible for generating electricity and billing customers for their usage.
How do I claim compensation for a power outage?
Under the Western Australian government’s extended outage payment scheme, customers may be eligible for a payment if they experience a continuous outage of 12 hours or more. Applications are typically processed through the Western Power website following major storm events.
What is the Clean Energy Link?
The Clean Energy Link is a major infrastructure project led by Western Power to upgrade the transmission network, enabling more renewable energy from wind and solar farms to be integrated into the state’s main grid.