The WA Government is transferring responsibility for power and water services in 141 remote Aboriginal communities from the Department of Communities to State-owned utilities Horizon Power and Water Corporation respectively.

The WA Government want to ensure everyone has access to safe, efficient, and reliable power and water services. The transfer is the first step to ensure residents receive the same standard of power and water services as similar sized communities in the State.

From 1 July Horizon Power will take network ownership of the transferred remote communities. This includes an initial $200 million investment to keep delivering services and commencing planning for the longer-term upgrades and improvements in power and water infrastructure, and to water quality. This is being funded by the State Government’s $350 million Remote Communities Fund and expected to be delivered over the next 10-years.

On a day-to-day basis, the 141 remote communities will not see major changes as part of the transfer just yet and power and water services will continue to be delivered by the existing service provider. The transfer will in time help create opportunities for more remote Aboriginal communities to benefit from the integration of renewables into their power systems.

Horizon Power has 53 regularised remote Aboriginal communities where it is already providing power services and has some great learnings from the work it is doing in this space.

You can find out more about the transfer at horizonpower.com.au/resp.

For ‘notifiable work’ as defined in the Electricity Licensing Regulations 1991 and, in particular, Notices of Completion shall be submitted to the relevant network operator as required by Regulations 51 and 52.

Solutions for electrical contractors attending remote communities that may not have internet access are available from Building and Energy’s eNotice frequently asked questions page.