WESTERN POWER - UPDATE

UDIA WA and Western Power are committed to keeping members up to date on the considerable progress underway to resolve issues in delay times for securing clearances and gaining energisation. We understand that these delays are impacting the timely delivery of crucially needed housing.

To deliver this housing we’re working extensively with Western Power to ensure developers receive timely clearances for subdivision conditions to enable lot creation to occur, balanced with timely completion of Design Conformance Review (DCR) to ensure energisations are not delayed post the issuance of titles.

Finding workable solutions with Western Power is our top priority.

This is the third update to members in the last two months in providing progress on the work UDIA WA has proactively been doing with Western Power to improve the situation, as we continue to keep our members fully informed.

The previous Member Updates can be viewed here and here.

Meetings with the Premier & Energy Minister’s offices 

Last update we advised of the fruitful meeting with the Premier & Minister for Energy’s offices on 30 November. This was to discuss the impact of delays on the housing supply pipeline and the actions agreed as part of the UDIA WA / Western Power roundtable on 16 October, attended by senior staffers from both offices.

It was agreed that regular progress meetings would be established with the Premier’s office, Minister for Energy’s office, Western Power and UDIA WA representatives (the ‘Western Power – UDIA Customer Connections Group’) every two weeks to track progress on all actions, but particularly in relation to the implementation of the proposed new pre DCR clearance process.

New process for early clearances

A significant focus of UDIA WA’s current advocacy has centred on Western Power introducing a pre DCR clearance process option which can be selected prior to completion of DCR assessment stage.

Western Power is currently working through the final design of the pre DCR clearance process and eligibility criteria, which will consider status of developers’ design/construction, projects current position in the DCR queue, other easement/ restrictive covenant approvals etc. It will not include a security bond as a requirement for application to be eligible for an early clearance.

UDIA has requested that this new process is implemented by the end of January 2024.

It is important to note that a DCR and conforming design will still be required prior to energisation. This needs to be factored in when deciding to proceed with pre DCR clearance and titling to minimise the risk of knock-on effects for builders and purchasers.

Latest Progress Update

UDIA WA is pleased to advise that the first ‘Western Power – UDIA Customer Connections Group’ update meeting was held with all relevant parties on 14 December. Western Power provided a comprehensive update on progress made in relation to the action items stemming from our recent meetings and advocacy over the past 18+ months.

Overall, it is pleasing to see tangible improvements based on the actions implemented to date. While times remain above pre-Covid levels and are still long, there is now clear evidence that Western Power actions rolled out to date and collaboration with UDIA WA are starting to make a real difference and have a positive impact.

Data provided below for members shows the performance indicators and we’ll continue to receive updates directly from Western Power as we progress with our regular meeting schedule.

In the Built Form space, Western Power shared that an increase in outsourcing has led to a steady decrease in the backlog of work waiting to enter design stage and times will improve as this clears and our design vendors work to increase their capacity. 

In the land development space, actions such as the re-establishment of the dedicated team late last year and the increase in resource allocation (particularly more experienced professionals) have had significant positive impact.  While times are still long, the following actions in progress will further address identified pain points with times expected to continue decreasing:

• Monthly look ahead for DCR’s (commenced 13 November 2023)
• Embedding senior design resources in Design Vendor premises (commenced 20 November 2023)
•  Reinstatement of Technical Queries support service (commenced 20 November 2023)
• MyWesternPower Project Portal will improve visibility across projects for electrical consultants and developers (end February 2024)
• Design Information Package (DIP) self-service (by March 2024)
• Quarterly technical engagement forums and activities to improve awareness of and mitigate non-conformance relating to reliability, safety or capacity issues (commenced)
• New DCR Pilot Trial (see below)
• Proposed new pre DCR clearances process (see above)
• UDS Manual review to address grey areas (see below)

To realise the full benefits of these extensive actions being progressed by Western Power, it will be important industry supports and fully uses the new processes being implemented.

What the data shows  

Western Power has shared a range of data to track timeframes and delivery relating to Land Development projects, with key information including: 

Figure 1: Breakdown of Work in Progress (Source: Western Power, November 2023)

Note that the Land Development Design in the graph above includes DIPs and DCRs as a proportion of the total work in progress. 

Figure 2: Land Development Volumes (Source: Western Power) 

Note that the above graph shows Western Power’s initiatives to address delays are starting to see more applications processed than received which is positive.

Western Power is committed to working collaboratively with industry, including through the quarterly technical forums, to improve conformance, particularly relating to potential reliability, safety and capacity issues.

Western Power has also provided timeframes for Built Form projects:

Table 1: MP Project Lifecycle Timeframes (Source: Western Power)

DCR Pilot Trial

Importantly, WP is seeing evidence of the benefits from the DCR Pilot with 14 projects going through with an average of three months quicker than current times. This involves developers provided with the option to seek an independent audit of their designs. 

Western Power is in the process of transitioning this trial to ‘business as usual’, with a plan for full implementation finalised Q1 2024. Western Power’s aim is to rely on the strength of the audit process to transition the DCR process from the current 100% design compliance check to a risk-based quality assurance framework based on criteria such as design complexity, design consultant’s recent quality performance.

UDS Manual consultation

A reminder that proposed draft changes to the 11^th edition of the Underground Distribution Schemes Manual (UDS) are open for comment until COB Friday 19^th January.

The document has been revised to reflect all aspects of Western Power’s involvement in the land development process for subdivision projects regardless of title designation. It is to be used by developers, property owners and industry to design and construct, a technically compliant development.

UDIA WA, through our Infrastructure Committee, is preparing a submission.  Please email policy@udiawa.com.au if you would like to provide input.

Please contact UDIA WA Executive Director of Strategy & Policy Sarah Macaulay with any feedback or to discuss relevant issues at policy@udiawa.com.au