Farmers stuck with 'broken' standalone power systems

Farmers in rural Western Australia are voicing frustration over standalone power systems installed by utility Western Power. These systems, meant to be a greener and more reliable alternative to the traditional grid, have instead led to frequent power outages and maintenance problems for residents.

“

We probably used to get three or four power outages a year and we thought it's going to be great, we'll have power all year round. Since it's been installed, we've had untold power outages, probably getting up towards 70 power outages.

Ben Parsons, a farmer in Tenterden, described a drastic increase in outages since his system was installed in 2022. "We probably used to get three or four power outages a year and we thought it's going to be great, we'll have power all year round," he said. "Since it's been installed, we've had untold power outages, probably getting up towards 70 power outages."

“

We've had kids in the bath, and the power's dropped out, 7 o'clock at night middle of winter pitch black, you've got kids screaming in the bathroom.

Parsons recounted instances of power loss during critical moments, such as children bathing in winter. "It sounds like the generator is right outside the kids' bedroom. My seven-year-old said to me the other day, 'Oh Dad what's that noise I can't get to sleep' … and it was the generator running," he shared.

“

It sounds like the generator is right outside the kids' bedroom. My seven-year-old said to me the other day, 'Oh Dad what's that noise I can't get to sleep' … and it was the generator running.

Concerns extend beyond individual farms. Linda Gray, chief executive of the Shire of Cranbrook, highlighted a lack of community consultation. "We had a phone call from an 85-year-old lady... she had no community engagement, no awareness of what this was about until these people turned up on her doorstep," Gray stated. Residents also face issues with Western Power rejecting requests to reconnect to the main grid, with Gray noting that the utility is not required to obtain landowner consent under WA legislation.

“

We had a phone call from an 85-year-old lady located at the northern end of the shire and she had had people arrive on her property to tell her that her power was being cut off and she was going to have a standalone power system. She had no community engagement, no awareness of what this was about until these people turned up on her doorstep.