Almost 60 homes from a tiny community in Western Australia's Pilbara region have been given access to safer power that can be secured through prepayment at the local town store.
Key points:
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure gives remote residents reliable energy access
• One of several remote energy initiatives from service provider Horizon Power
• Rollout delivered with Pilbara Meta Maya Services, an Indigenous-owned regional service provider
Horizon Power delivered its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to Kiwirrkurra - the first remote community in the Pilbara region and one of the most isolated areas in WA - giving residents access to the regional service provider.
The AMI will connect 57 households and key community facilities to Horizon Power's network, giving residents and businesses access to safer, more reliable power.
Customers also have more options on how to pay for their energy, have greater consumer protection and can access energy concessions and practical tools to manage their energy use.
Kiwirrkurra is close to the Northern Territory border in the heart of the Gibson Desert, making it one of the most remote installations in Horizon Power's service area.
Meter connections to critical facilities, including the medical clinic and school, have been upgraded and commissioned, while a new prepayment outlet at the local community store gave residents the option to purchase power locally.
The rollout included advanced meter installation, electrical safety upgrades and behind-the-meter remediation improvements.
Delivered with support from Pilbara Meta Maya Services, an Indigenous-owned regional service provider, the rollout was part of Horizon Power's broader AMI program, improving safety, reliability and energy equity across remote WA Aboriginal communities, as well as supporting the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Target 9b.
The energy provider was funded $24 million until the 2028 financial year from the state government to deliver AMI in remote Aboriginal communities across WA.
Horizon Power CEO Krystal Skinner said development and implementation of the Kiwirrkurra rollout was - like its other remote energy initiatives - community-led, with practical options provided to help improve access and support for residents.
"Residents who once had to travel large distances to shop for a power card can now purchase pre-paid power easily from comfort of their own homes, or at their local community store," she said.
"The expansion of smart meters will improve network safety through faster fault detection, while giving customers greater visibility and control over their energy use and reducing the need to travel to access electricity services."
