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Electricity Network

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WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly


20/10/2008

22. Electricity Network

Mr Mills to MINISTER for Essential Services

QUESTION

    1. What are the terms of reference given to Mr Mervyn Davies to investigate the problems with the NT electricity network.

    2. How many generators are being brought into Darwin to provide emergency/back up power? Break down by size and type.

    3. What is the total cost of transporting the generators to the territory.

    4. Are the generators leased or has the government purchased the generators. How many and what generators have been purchased. How many and what generators have been leased.

    5. If purchased how much has the government paid. Please itemise by type.

    6. What are the lease arrangements for the borrowed generators. Where have they come from. How long will they be leased for. What is the cost per week to have the generators on loan.

    7. Are there arrangements to ensure the security of the generators once in place. Please outline those arrangements.

    8. Are there arrangements in place to guarantee the supply of diesel to the generators for the duration the generators are required. What are those arrangements.

    9. What is the fuel consumption of each generator by type/size.

    10. What is the cost per litre for diesel to run the generators.

    11. What is the expected running time per day of each generator.

    12. What are the running, servicing and refuelling arrangements for the generators.

    13. What are the environmental protection measures in place for the sites that the generators will be located.

    14. What is the expected carbon footprint of the generators. Are there any carbon offset plans in place. If so, what are they.

    15. Are there any other major sub-stations in the Territory that are likely to experience similar failures to those experienced at Casuarina.

    16. What measures are in place if the problems experienced in Casuarina are experienced at other major sub-stations in the Darwin region.

    17. Are there any arrangements in place for generators elsewhere in the Darwin/Katherine grid to supply power back into the grid.

    18. How much have measures to supplement Casuarina sub-station cost the NT Government to date (9 Oct).

    19. What is the estimate of total costs before the Casuarina sub-station is back on line.

    20. How is the bill for the lease, running and transportation of the generators being paid.

    21. Will PAWA customers be expected to foot the bill. If so, what percentage of the bill will be added to electricity accounts.

    22. What are the expected law and order ramifications if there are further long term blackouts. What measures are in place to mitigate any problems.

    23. What are the expected public health ramifications if there are further long term blackouts. What measures are in place to mitigate any problems.

    24. Are there any compensation measures in place for residents and businesses affected by long term blackouts.

ANSWER


Answered on 23/12/2009
    1. What are the terms of reference given to Mr Mervyn Davies to investigate the problems with the NT electricity network?

        This information was released by the Minister for Essential Services in a press release dated Friday 3 October 2008.

    2. How many generators are being brought into Darwin to provide emergency/back up power? Break down by size and type.

      There are 61 generators available to Power and Water.
    Type
    Size KVA
    Type
    Size KVA
    Type
    Size KVA
    Aggreko
    1250
    Cat
    600
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1250
    Cat
    600
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1250
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1750
    Cat
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1750
    Cat
    350
    Aust Rental
    1000
    Cat
    1750
    Coates
    500
    Aust Rental
    1000
    Aggreko
    1650
    Cat
    250
    Aust Rental
    1000
    Cat
    1750
    Cat
    300
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1750
    Cat
    750
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    1250
    Cat
    450
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    1250
    Coates
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    1250
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    1250
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    500
    Cat
    1250
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    1250
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    1250
    Aust Rental
    750
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    750
    Aggreko
    800
    Cat
    450
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    800
    Coates
    125
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    500
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    800
    Aggreko
    800
    Coates
    200
    3. What is the total cost of transporting the generators to the Territory?

      Transport costs were $784,090.

    4. Are the generators leased or has the government purchased the generators. How many and what generators have been purchased. How many and what generators have been leased.

    All the generators have been leased.

    5. If purchased how much has the government paid? Please itemise by type.

    All the generators have been leased.

    6. What are the lease arrangements for the borrowed generators? Where have they come from? How long will they be leased for? What is the cost per week to have the generators on loan?
        The lease arrangement is operating under standard terms and conditions. The lease period is for eight weeks and Power and Water has an option to extend after this time. Cost per week, including generator lease, fuel and transformers is around $430,000.

    7. Are there arrangements to ensure the security of the generators once in place? Please outline those arrangements.
        All generator sites are double fenced, locked and patrolled by Chubb security on a 24/7 basis.

    8. Are there arrangements in place to guarantee the supply of diesel to the generators for the duration the generators are required? What are those arrangements?
        Power and Water is utilising existing contracts for the supply of diesel. DIRECTHAUL is delivering the diesel to the generator sites based on expected usage and actual consumption.


    9. What is the fuel consumption of each generator by type/size? Fuel consumption is based on loading for each generator. The following table is indicative of fuel consumption at different loads.

    Generator Size (kW)
    1/4 Load (l/hr)
    1/2 Load (l/hr)
    3/4 Load (l/hr)
    Full Load (l/hr)
    125
    12
    19
    27
    34
    135
    12
    20
    29
    37
    150
    14
    22
    32
    41
    175
    16
    26
    37
    48
    200
    18
    29
    42
    55
    230
    20
    33
    47
    63
    250
    22
    36
    51
    68
    300
    26
    43
    61
    81
    350
    30
    50
    71
    95
    400
    34
    56
    81
    108
    500
    42
    70
    100
    135
    600
    50
    83
    119
    162
    750
    62
    104
    149
    202
    1000
    82
    138
    197
    269
    1250
    102
    171
    246
    336
    1500
    122
    206
    294
    403
    1750
    142
    239
    343
    470
    2000
    162
    273
    392
    537
    2250
    182
    307
    441
    604

    10. What is the cost per litre for diesel to run the generators?
        The diesel is purchased under an existing contract, the terms of which are commercial in confidence.

    11. What is the expected running time per day of each generator?
        Generators at schools will operate 24/7 and will only be shut down for scheduled maintenance. Other generators will only be run to provide emergency backup power supply.

    12. What are the running, servicing and refuelling arrangements for the generators?

        The generators are currently checked three times a day by the suppliers of the generators. Generators will be serviced by the generator suppliers and this is based on their running time. Refuelling of the generators is undertaken by DIRECTHAUL and is scheduled to take place outside normal school hours.



    13. What are the environmental protection measures in place for the sites that the generators will be located?

        Operational Environmental Management Plans have been produced for the generation sites which address impact areas of air, water, land, biodiversity, resources and community. Noise surveys have been undertaken and results recorded.

    14. What is the expected carbon footprint of the generators? Are there any carbon offset plans in place? If so, what are they?

        An environmental fee of 1% is charged to Power and Water from the generator suppliers.

    15. Are there any other major sub-stations in the Territory that are likely to experience similar failures to those experienced at Casuarina?
        The independent review undertaken by Mervyn Davies will assess the possibility of similar incidents occurring in other substations. However, there is a greatly reduced risk of this occurring elsewhere, as the mode of failure of the circuit breaker is now understood, and this particular type of breaker is not in service elsewhere.

    16. What measures are in place if the problems experienced in Casuarina are experienced at other major sub-stations in the Darwin region?
        All zone substations are built to the n-1 capability, as is the Casuarina Zone Substation. This means that in the event of a similar failure, the substation can still carry the full load.

    17. Are there any arrangements in place for generators elsewhere in the Darwin/Katherine grid to supply power back into the grid?
        No.

    18. How much have measures to supplement Casuarina sub-station cost the NT Government to date (9 Oct)?
        Please see answer below.

    19. What is the estimate of total costs before the Casuarina sub-station is back on line?
        Power and Water has a $4M capital provision for this Financial Year, and $7M operational costs for the emergency standby generators.


    20. How is the bill for the lease, running and transportation of the generators being paid?
        All invoices are paid by Power and Water within seven days of receipt.

    21. Will PAWA customers be expected to foot the bill? If so, what percentage of the bill will be added to electricity accounts?
        No. Like any business, the additional cost will simply mean that Power and Water’s profit forecast will be downgraded by these costs.

    22. What are the expected law and order ramifications if there are further long term blackouts? What measures are in place to mitigate any problems?
        This question should be referred to the appropriate NT Government agency.

    23. What are the expected public health ramifications if there are further long term blackouts? What measures are in place to mitigate any problems?
        This question should be referred to the appropriate NT Government agency.

    24. Are there any compensation measures in place for residents and businesses affected by long term blackouts?
        Power and Water voluntarily compensated customers affected by the Casuarina power outages; however, there is currently no Guaranteed Service Level Scheme. The Utilities Commission, as part of its Work Program, will examine the options for implementing a Guaranteed Service Level Scheme in early 2010.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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