Power Outage Puzzles Kalgoorlie-Boulder Residents Amidst Safety Concerns

Power Outage Details

Kalgoorlie-Boulder experienced a significant power outage affecting over 16,000 homes and businesses on Friday, with restoration of power delayed until 7pm. The outage was attributed to a fault in the 220kV transmission line from Collie. Western Power stated that the backup generators could only power up slowly for safety reasons, causing frustration among residents and local business owners, many of whom expressed their grievances on social media regarding the ongoing power supply issues.

Community Response

Prominent local figures, including businessman Ashok Parekh, have called the power situation an 'absolute disgrace', stressing that residents have suffered from repeated outages. Parekh’s previous petition following a multi-day blackout in January garnered over 500 signatures, highlighting a growing unrest within the community.

Political Reactions

WA Liberals MLC Neil Thomson has amplified calls for an investigation into managing backup power effectiveness during outages. He noted that a recent petition had already touched on previous failures in the power supply system and the necessity of accountability from the State Government. Discussions about implementing a dedicated power station have also arisen among the community.

Future Measures

The State Government has pledged to increase reliability by adding more power capacity by 2026, aiming to address these persistent issues. As residents face continued risks of future outages, the need for immediate improvements in infrastructure is evident.