The Western Australian Government will support the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) on the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), with Western Power set to install 238,000 advanced meters over the next three years.
The meters will be installed as part of its routine meter replacement program, and for all new meters, aligning the utility with industry deployment across Australia and globally.
The deployment will include communications infrastructure to monitor two-way flows on the electricity network, which is likely to increase as demand for solar PVs and electric vehicles continues to grow.
Advanced meters will provide improved visibility of power flows on the network, which will improve the efficiency and reliability of operations and services provided to customers.
“Advanced metering technology empowers customers and gives them a choice on how and when they use their electricity,” Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston, said.
“It’s important to move with global technology trends and enable the grid to evolve, to meet the needs of families as well as businesses, as meter assets are replaced over time.
“Advanced metering is one of the keys to unlocking a grid that will inspire innovation in emerging technologies, and drive new economic growth and business opportunities.
“Once fully implemented, Western Power expects an increase in operational savings from this initiative, which will contribute to putting downward pressure on household energy bills.”
Additionally, the Western Australian Government will facilitate the development of new retail products and services, which will enable Western Australian homes and businesses to have greater visibility and control of their energy use, including managing rooftop solar electricity systems and batteries.
The $251 million investment is also expected to provide substantial safety benefits by enhancing the ability to detect safety issues on the network, such as neutral faults.
