A major aim of reform is to improve the reliability, security, quality and safety of supply.

The disadvantage with the previous system was that Western Power Corporation – as a monopoly - was effectively the entire Western Australian electricity industry.  If there was a problem at Western Power, there was a problem for electricity consumers.

The State Government wants to reduce the risk of something going wrong by encouraging private sector investment in generation. This means we would have a number of companies feeding electricity into the system and a number of retailers to choose from.

The electricity reform model was also designed to provide incentives for investment in network capacity – the so-called “wires and poles” business. This will ensure a modern and reliable supply of electricity.

Other measure to protect supply include:

• the record $2.23 billion is to be spent on upgrading Western Power’s lines and poles over a 4 year period ending June 2009;
• the State Government is currently commissioning new power plants to come on stream to meet future demand;
• obligations to ensure there is reserve capacity available; and
• fall back arrangements to enable procurement of peaking plant if capacity is forecast to fall below demand requirements.

The Government has published a document titled: Integrated Measures to Improve Network Services and Reliability, which details its integrated strategy to improve the safety, reliability and quality of electricity supply.