Power has been restored to approximately 104,000 customers in Western Australia after a severe summer storm caused widespread outages, but around 11,000 remain without electricity, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). The storm, described by officials as a 'supercell event' worse than Cyclone Seroja, caused catastrophic damage to electricity infrastructure during a heatwave.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the situation is dynamic and estimates may change, with some areas advised to prepare for power outages lasting up to seven days. The Goldfields region, including Kalgoorlie, was particularly hard hit, with residents experiencing similar week-long outages in 2017.
In the Wheatbelt town of Dowerin, 156km north-east of Perth, local business owner Jim Davidson reported that unexplained outages with Telstra and Western Power have become commonplace. The town's swimming pool was closed due to the outages, leaving residents without a way to cool down as temperatures reached around 40 degrees Celsius for over a week.
Energy Minister Reece Whitby acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the event, noting that large transmission towers were knocked over 'like matchsticks'. He said the government is focused on restoring power as quickly as possible and that diversifying energy supply, including renewables and batteries, will help build a more resilient grid for the future.
Residents and business owners impacted by outages lasting more than 12 hours can apply for an extended outage claim through Western Power's website, with the government doubling the usual payment from $120 to $240. However, Minister Whitby stated this is not intended as equal compensation for the hardship experienced.
Western Power's acting CEO Jacqui Hall said 'abnormal circumstances' caused the Kalgoorlie-Boulder backup generator to trip when the storm hit, despite Premier Roger Cook earlier stating the backup generators were not fit-for-purpose. The government has committed to restoring services as quickly as possible.
