In May 1994 a major storm caused extensive damage to the Western Australian public electricity supply to the Perth metropolitan area and the South West of the State. The result of the storm was widespread electricity outages, lasting several hours and affecting many thousands of Western Power customers.
The storm of 1994 and others of a similar nature were instrumental in Western Power undertaking a program to underground power supplies within the Perth metropolitan and South West of the State.
Underground Services Australia (USA) was chosen to assist Western Power with their program to underground the state’s power supplies. USA began work in 1995 on stage one in Applecross, a pilot State Underground Power Program (SUPP) project to the now many SUPP projects that have been undertaken and successfully completed by USA.
The work associated with underground power supplies within old established suburbs of Perth is intense as it involves maneuvering many live and abandoned services (gas, water, sewer, telecommunication, etc) within street verges and roads.
USA is committed to building the Western Power State Underground Power Program Infrastructure.
USA is a leader, for its knowledge in trenchless technology. USA methods of trenchless technology have been favoured by Western Power for the SUPP projects, which ensures the least disruption for the homeowners’ properties by leaving many pristine lawns and driveway untouched.
Each SUPP project to date has had an average duration of twelve to eighteen months.
Throughout the project Western Power are supplied with electronic drawing allowing Western Power to upload the cables onto their geographic systems.
USA is to commence two (2) new Western Power SUPP projects in 2008.
