New strategy to combat pole top fires

1/08/04
Western Power will silicon-coat insulators on 40,000 power poles across the State as part of a new $6million strategy to combat pole top fires.
Energy Minister Eric Ripper said there were about 500 pole top fires every year after long spells of dry weather, causing power interruptions and safety hazards.
"Dust and salt that builds up on the insulators can cause arcing when the first drops of rain arrive, causing fires to break out," Mr Ripper said.
"Worst affected are coastal regions in the metropolitan area and Mid-West districts north to Kalbarri.
"It is a long-standing problem traditionally dealt with by washing the power lines with high pressure sprayers, but that has a temporary effect at best."
Mr Ripper said a 12-month trial of the new silicon coating on 3,000 high voltage poles in the northern suburbs had proved effective and would provide protection for seven or eight years.
The program would be expanded to coat 120,000 insulators on 40,000 poles over the next four years.
Western Power would also fit all new poles with steel crossarms and polymer insulators rather than wooden crossarms which are more likely to burn.
Metropolitan lines to be targeted in the 2004-05 area include high voltage lines in the Rockingham, Spearwood, Kwinana, Baldivis, Welshpool, Wanneroo, Gosnells and Hamilton Hill districts.
Country lines to be treated include the line from Geraldton to Kalbarri and lines in the Dongara, Northampton and Geraldton districts. Other country areas to be treated are high voltage lines around Eneabba, Leeman, Jurien and Lancelin.
Spraying is scheduled to start next month in preparation for summer.
Western Power managing director Tony Iannello said the corporation was responding to public concern about power interruptions.
"It must be clearly understood though, that the only 100 per cent effective solution is to put power lines underground," Mr Iannello said.
"That work is under way but will take many years. In the mean time, we will invest in this new strategy to reduce the incidence of pole top fires."
Mr Iannello said the strategy was part of Western Power's maintenance program which saw 800,000 poles inspected every four years on average and the replacement of up to 4,000 poles a year.
Mr Ripper said $1.8billion was being invested in improvements to the electricity network over the next four years.
The State's long-term goal was to see underground power delivered to half of Perth households by 2010, with a similar proportion in the regions.
Minister's office: 9222 8788
SILICON TREATMENT PROGRAM
Lines to be treated in 2004-05:
Country areas
Geraldton to Kalbarri, Geraldton, Dongara, Eneabba, Leeman, Jurien, Lancelin
Metro areas
Rockingham, Waikiki, Warnbro, Safety Bay, Challenger, Kwinana to Baldivis Welshpool, Wanneroo, Wangara, Sinagra, Pinjar, Woodvale, Edgewater, Canning Vale, Thornlie, Gosnells, Bibra Lake, Hamilton Hill, Spearwood, Cannington, Welshpool.

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