The Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has updated the Western Australia Electrical Requirements (WAER) following consultation with network operators and the electrical contracting industry.

Electrical workers will have a six-month notice from 1 August 2023 before compliance with the new WAER becomes mandatory. The new WAER will apply to all new electrical installation designs commenced after 1 February 2024.

This latest WAER version focuses on technical safety compliance requirements and removes information on network connection arrangements, which are covered by documentation available from network operators. It also removes matters that appear in other new or revised statutory instruments or technical standards (such as the Wiring Rules).

The key changes in this latest WAER include:

Section 2

• Replacement of WA Distributions Connections Manual (WADCM) references with WA Service and Installation Requirements (WASIR) – applicable to Western Power and Horizon Power.

Section 3

• New table is included that sets out ownership and responsibilities for each component of service apparatus.

Section 7

• Expanded scope from only high voltage installations to large-scale installations that include solar, battery and wind turbine installations that exceed the upper limits (200kVA) covered by Australian Standards.
• Outlines design requirements, design submissions and certifications for all large-scale installations that must be provided to the Network Operator.
• Final testing and ‘as commissioned’ certification that must be provided to the Network Operator (for network connections) and installation owner/operator (for network-connected and standalone systems).

Compliance with the WAER is mandatory under Regulation 49 of the Western Australian Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The WAER should be read with the Electricity Regulations 1947, Part VIII and the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The regulations take precedence.