The Pilbara Underground Power Project is progressing with more than 800 homes now connected.
All homes in Millars Well are now connected with the final lot, in Atkinson Way, marking the completion of this stage of the project.
“The project team is very pleased to have reached this significant milestone and we thank residents for their cooperation and support whilst the works were taking place,” Project Manager James Carney said.
“The residents of Millars Well are now connected to a power supply that is equal to those in the newer parts of Karratha or in metropolitan cities.”
Re-instatement works and dismantling of the overhead network will continue in Millars Well in the coming months and work continues to progress in Bulgarra.
In Millars Well and Bulgarra, work continues re-instate properties, install streetlights and dismantle the existing overhead wires.
The Pilbara Underground Power Project is a partnership between the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Pilbara Cities initiative and Local Government, delivered by Horizon Power.
Pilbara Underground Power Project aims to provide cyclone affected North West towns with a safe and reliable power supply, by replacing ageing overhead electricity infrastructure with underground networks. The project will dramatically reduce the likelihood of power outages to essential services, regional residents and businesses during, and immediately following, adverse weather events.
The project covers Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and the remaining overhead network in Roebourne. A voltage upgrade to the distribution network in Karratha will also form part of the project. This upgrade is required to meet the power needs of this growing community both now, and into the future.
The scope of the project encompasses:
- Street services – work such as installation of transformers and switchgear and energising the system post installation, from Bulk Supply Substations to Street Pillars.
- House services – connections from the pillars to the houses and commissioning.
- Street light erection – installation and energising of street lighting.
- Demolition – removal of replaced assets such as transformers, overhead lines, streetlights, house services etc.
- Interface – connection to the existing network.
- Communications links – point-to-point communications links between the equipment and control systems, allowing greater remote control over the network.
- Distribution voltage – upgrade of the distribution voltage in Karratha from 11kV to 22kV.
