Horizon Power Pilbara Network

On 2 February 2018, the then Minister for Energy announced that all of the interconnected electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure facilities owned by Regional Power Corporation (Horizon Power) in the North West Interconnected System (NWIS) be covered under the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004 (Access Code) commencing 1 January 2020.

This decision is available here and defines Horizon Power’s covered network as follows:

• All of Horizon Power's network infrastructure in the West Pilbara area, which supplies customers located in and around Karratha, including the connections to the Port of Dampier, Cape Lambert, Point Samson and Roebourne
• All of Horizon Power’s network infrastructure in the East Pilbara area, which supplies customers in and around greater Port Hedland, including the connections to the port operations of BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group 
• The transmission line that connects Horizon Power's network infrastructure in the West Pilbara and East Pilbara areas
• The transmission line that runs from Port Hedland to the site of the former mining town of Goldsworthy

The Minister for Energy has since amended the Access Code to extend the coverage commencement date to 1 July 2021.

The Western Australian State Government is presently implementing a new light-handed regulatory regime which will cover the access and use of certain covered electricity networks in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (Pilbara Electricity Reforms) including Horizon Power’s network in the NWIS.

The Pilbara Electricity Reforms involves the development of a new Pilbara Networks Access Code which, when enacted, will be applied to Horizon Power’s covered network in place of the Access Code. The Pilbara Electricity Reforms are also working to establish an Independent System Operator to maintain power system security in the NWIS.

For more information, please visit Pilbara Electricity Reforms and the Electricity Networks Access Code - Coverage Application.