Regional Connect

What is Regional Connect?

As part of Western Power’s commitment to improving regional reliability, we’re actively implementing initiatives to reduce the duration of unplanned outages for homes and businesses that are supplied by long feeder lines.

Through our Regional Connect program, we’re engaging with these communities across the network to deliver solutions that improve power reliability.

In addition to delivering initial power reliability improvements, we’re testing innovative combinations of solutions such as remotely controlled devices and network reconfiguration to determine and enhance our ability to improve regional reliability.

In the medium-term, we’re considering alternative solutions such as additional back-up generation, energy storage solutions or new third-party reliability services.

Click through the tabs below for key project facts.

Community

We're engaging with communities in targeted areas across the network to better understand their felt experience and priorities, so that we can deliver tailored solutions to improve their power reliability.

The feedback gathered from communities will also be integrated into our medium- and long-term planning.

Target areas

The target areas chosen for the Regional Connect program so far include Lancelin, Northampton, Shire of Irwin and Gnowangerup/Lake King.

Additional Regional Connect target areas will be announced in the coming months.

The feeder lines and associated target areas were chosen based on several factors, including customers experiencing a high number of recurring unplanned outages, challenging environmental conditions, and diverse community needs.

Our approach has been tailored to each location due to environment, demand and local context.

Reliability solutions

In the medium-term, we’re considering alternative solutions such as additional back-up generation, energy storage solutions or new third-party reliability services.

Improvement works on the feeders supplying Lancelin, Northampton, Shire of Irwin and Gnowangerup feeders are due to be delivered by June 2026.

Further Regional Connect target areas will be announced in 2025, with those works scheduled to be delivered by June 2027.

We’re aiming to increase the network’s resilience to severe weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, while building capacity to support the transition to a clean energy future.

Renewable solutions such as energy storage systems are being considered as part of the Regional Connect program.

Other medium-term solutions such as additional back-up generation that rely on diesel fuel are intended as interim solutions to improve regional reliability as we work toward the energy transition.

Funding

Regional Connect is funded through an $88 million allocation by the Economic Regulation Authority WA to improve rural long feeder reliability under Western Power’s Access Arrangement 5 (AA5).

Regional customers - have your say

Share your feedback by completing the survey below, or dropping markers on the interactive map. You'll need to create an account or log in first.

Target areas

Lancelin

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Northampton

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Shire of Irwin

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Gnowangerup

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Information hub

Click on the drop-down menu below for more information.

Extended Outage Payments

Extended Outage Payment Scheme

If you're affected by power outages lasting 12 hours or more, you may be eligible for the State Government’s $120 extended outage payment.

This is a one-off payment of $120 for each supply interruption that lasts longer than 12 consecutive hours.

The payment is an acknowledgement of the inconvenience for customers who have experienced a long power outage while waiting for repairs to be completed and power to be restored.

Western Power administers the payment on behalf of the State Government. Payment of successful claims will be made to your nominated account within 30 days.

Find out more

Make a claim

If you believe that Western Power has failed to meet its service standards or caused loss or damage to your property, you can make a claim.

Customer damage

If you've experienced damage due to a power outage or surge, you could be eligible for compensation.

Non-notification of planned work claim

If we didn't give you at least 72 hours’ notice of a planned power outage, you may be eligible for a service standard payment.

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Complaint non-acknowledgement / response claim

If we haven't responded after receiving your written complaint, you may be eligible for a service standard payment.

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SMS notifications

We provide SMS notifications regarding unplanned power outages that affect you. To register for SMS notifications and learn more, visit Power outage SMS notifications.

Customer connections

You can apply through the Western Power website for new residential connections and new business & commercial connections.

Western Power is continually working to improve connection times.

Over the past 18 months, connection times to residential subdivisions have significantly improved. In FY24-25, we energised approximately 10,000 subdivision lots – 2,300 more than the previous financial year.

We acknowledge, however, that timeframes on some other project types are not meeting customer expectations.

To improve connection times across all projects, we have increased outsourcing for design and construction work, reviewed our end-to-end processes, created dedicated teams for residential and commercial projects, and introduced initiatives to streamline processes and enable customers to self-serve where possible.

Demand for connections remains high, so we kindly ask for your patience and understanding.

Stand-alone power systems

SPS is an off-grid power solution, independent to the main electricity grid, which generates, stores and delivers power to rural households and small businesses. It uses renewable energy via solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, inverter(s) and a backup diesel generator.

Western Power pays for the upfront cost of the unit and any ongoing costs associated with operation and maintenance, faults and replacement. Customers continue to be billed by their retailer at the same unit cost as a grid or network connected property.

Learn more on our website: Stand-alone power systems

Siliconing

Regular insulator washing and siliconing

Elevated Work Platform Siliconing

In built-up areas, Elevated Work Platforms (EWPs) are used to apply silicone to insulators with precision.

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Helicopter line maintenance

In regional areas, helicopters are used to wash and apply silicone to insulators on poles across vast or hard-to-reach areas.

Pole top fires

Pole top fires can cause power outages and pose a bushfire risk in Western Australia. They happen during light rain or humid conditions when dust, salt, and pollution create a conductive path on insulators, leading to electrical arcing and, in some cases, fire. While these events are more common in certain weather conditions, we have a range of preventative programs in place to reduce the risk and improve network resilience.

Managing bushfire risk

The ongoing impacts of climate change and forecasted increased risk of bushfires means we operate the network differently and are continually refining the way we mitigate bushfire risk across the network.

Vegetation inspection program

In addition to our vegetation management program of naturally occurring trees and vegetation on public land, we undertake an ongoing inspection program identifying trees and vegetation on private property or the responsibility of councils/shires that may be growing in near powerlines.

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Managing trees near powerlines

High winds and stormy weather can blow branches and debris into powerlines – resulting in power outages and fallen lines which pose a safety hazard for the community.

Homeowners and occupiers are responsible for ensuring trees on their property stay clear of powerlines all year round.

There are proactive steps you can take to help keep your trees clear of power lines.

Vegetation notices

Our contractors perform inspections and issue notices if vegetation is identified as being within the clearance zone.

Keeping your trees clear from powerlines

Homeowners and occupiers are responsible for ensuring trees on their property stay clear of powerlines all year round.

Who's listening

Have questions or want to learn more about Regional Connect? Contact us below:

Contact Information
Name	Alana Joske, Community Engagement Team Leader
Email	communityenquiries@westernpower.com.au

Contact Information
Phone	Emergencies and outages - 13 13 51

Contact Information
Phone	General enquiries - 13 10 87

FAQs

The regional and remote parts of our network present unique challenges as feeder lines span long distances exposed to environmental factors including storm and bushfire and exposure to build up like salt and dust. During an unplanned outage, crews often need to patrol these lines which span hundreds of kilometres.

Western Power’s ongoing efforts aim to improve regional reliability through enhanced maintenance, network upgrades, new infrastructure, and exploring innovative energy solutions tailored to regional needs.

Western Power invests more than $1 billion annually on maintaining and upgrading the network including the more than 828,000 poles. As part of this we undertake a range of maintenance activities, including:

Regular inspections of poles, wires, and equipment to identify wear or damage
Siliconing and washing of insulators
Managing vegetation around powerlines to reduce the risk of outages and bushfires, especially in high-risk zones
Upgrading or replacing ageing infrastructure, including transformers and conductors, to improve safety and reliability
Using sensors, smart metres, and other advanced monitoring tools and data analysis to help detect issues early and guide future maintenance planning.

If you experience a power outage, first check Western Power’s outages map or call 13 13 51 to see if the outage is known and get updates. Turn off appliances to protect them from damage when power returns, and use torches or battery-powered lights instead of candles. Stay informed through a battery-powered radio or your phone, and limit opening your fridge and freezer to keep food cold. If you rely on electric pumps, make sure you have stored water available. Report any fallen powerlines or hazards to Western Power and check on neighbours who may need help.

When the network detects interference, our automatic safety reclosers activate to ensure there isn’t damage to the network that may impact the safety of the community. While this should not be causing damage to equipment or appliances, surge protection is recommended.

Western Power calculates its Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR) using a combination of:

Queue time – how long the outage has been known and logged
Travel time – the estimated arrival time of repair crews
Repair time – the projected time needed to fix the issue.

These estimates are updated as crews assess the situation. While helpful, ETRs are not exact and can change due to safety issues, weather, or unexpected damage.

Residential customers should automatically be signed up to receive outage notifications. Western Power uses the mobile number linked to your Synergy electricity account by default, so it’s best to make sure these details are correct. Our outage updates will be sent via SMS from a Western Power mobile number, so you know it's legitimate and not a scam.

If you are not the account holder but would like to receive updates, you can register for SMS notifications on our power outages page (bottom right corner).

Western Power will consider cancelling or limiting planned outages during hot weather or heatwaves where the temperature exceeds 38 degrees and there is significant community impact.

However, planned outages are necessary for network maintenance and upgrades to be completed and to avoid unplanned outages which can be longer in duration depending on the damage and repairs required.

Impacted residents and businesses will be notified by Western Power a minimum of three business days, but typically up to 10 business days, in advance so you can plan ahead and prepare as necessary.

We understand planned outages can cause inconvenience, and work to minimise impacts. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Regional Connect

What is Regional Connect?

Community

Why are we engaging with communities for Regional Connect?

Target areas

Where is the work taking place?

How were the target areas chosen?

Reliability solutions

What kind of solutions is the Regional Connect Program expected to deliver?

When do you expect the initial improvement works to be completed?

Are you looking at renewable solutions?

Funding

How is the Regional Connect Program being funded?

Regional customers - have your say

Target areas

Lancelin

Northampton

Shire of Irwin

Gnowangerup

Keep up to date

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