A local hotel owner in Bremer Bay says she was told by Western Power to purchase a diesel generator if she wanted a reliable electricity supply — a claim the power provider denies.
Bremer Bay is a small coastal town about 500 kilometres south of Perth with a population of around 571. That number surges during weekends and holidays as tourists visit the area’s scenic coastline.
Residents and business owners say the town’s electricity supply, part of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), has not kept up with growing demand. Over the recent Easter and Anzac Day holidays, the community experienced six power outages in just ten days.
Melissa Joy, owner of the Bremer Bay Resort for 22 years, said blackouts have become more frequent.
“There have always been some issues with power,” she said. “But lately, it’s gotten worse. We get outages ranging from 10 seconds to over an hour, and it happens regularly — especially when the town gets busy.”
Blackouts Impact Local Businesses
Western Power attributed the outages to bad weather and unusual demand. But Joy says that explanation isn’t good enough — especially during peak tourist periods.
In December, during one of the busiest times of the year, the resort had to close for an entire night.
“That cost us about $30,000 in lost revenue,” Joy said. “It’s incredibly disruptive and just not acceptable.”
Joy said when she raised her concerns with Western Power, she was told to consider buying a generator — at her own expense.
“Our electricity bills are over $65,000 a year,” she said. “Now I’m being told to spend another $30,000 on a generator that won’t even power everything.”
Western Power denies advising any business to buy a generator. In a statement, the utility acknowledged the community’s frustration and admitted Bremer Bay experiences more blackouts than other areas. It said there is some backup power available, but local faults can limit its effectiveness.
Complex Power Responsibilities
The situation also highlights the challenges of Western Australia’s power structure. Western Power maintains the SWIS network, but Synergy is responsible for generating and selling electricity.
Business owners claim Synergy’s wind-diesel station, which supports Bremer Bay and nearby areas, isn’t enough to meet demand.
Danielle Formica, who manages the Bremer Bay General Store, said they recently spent $30,000 on a generator to keep the shop open.
“This has been the worst year we’ve had,” she said. “For four days, we had to run on cash only during outages. Locals number around 300–400, but during peak season, that jumps to 15,000 to 20,000 tourists. We lost thousands of dollars because we couldn’t serve everyone.”
A spokesperson for Synergy said it does not manage the power network in Bremer Bay but confirmed its wind-diesel station can supply up to 40% of the town’s energy needs. It also noted that four backup diesel generators are available to Western Power during outages.
Residents Struggle With Essential Needs
Some residents say the ongoing power problems are more than just a business issue — they affect daily life and health.
Paul Taylor, 66, moved to Bremer Bay to retire. He has neuropathy of the diaphragm and relies on a CPAP machine to breathe while sleeping.
“Power failures are a big concern for me,” Taylor said. “When I lie down, my diaphragm presses on my lungs, making it hard to breathe. I need my CPAP machine at night.”
Taylor is now considering buying a generator or a backup CPAP machine with a battery — but both are costly.
“These machines can cost up to $10,000. It’s not an easy fix,” he said.
Western Power said it is exploring long-term solutions to improve power reliability in Bremer Bay.
