opinion

Letter to the Editor: Department responds to complaint over communication fail

Richard NormanAlbany Advertiser
Camera IconLetters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number. Credit: Canva

With regards to my letter last week (Albany Advertiser, September 5, ‘Communication fail hits the hip pocked’), Minister for Energy Reece Whitby has responded to my solar panel complaint.

Just prior to going to print, an officer from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety called.

We had a cordial and fruitful conversation.

In principle, Western Power will send a text to consumers when the grid goes offline and subsequently is reinstated.

This is done, in part, for those consumers who may have some special dependents on the grid, be they in attendance or away.

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This might be for medical devices or other specialised equipment.

Further, testing is done mid-morning — once a month — as this is deemed to be the least likely to cause low-end users any inconvenience.

Further, the problem can be resolved by not exporting energy (selling) to the grid — no disconnection but no Distributed Energy Buyback scheme (DEBS).

I thank the minister’s office for the response.

However, I still would like to receive notification when essential grid testing/management is carried out.

Food for thought and not impossible.

Richard Norman, Spencer Park

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or legal reasons. Email news@albanyadvertiser.com or post to PO Box 5168 Albany, WA, 6332.

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