Utility receives $180k fine for residents' electric shocks

07/05/2012 - Utility Western Power has been fined $180,000 for faulty work its contractors did on three West Australian homes where residents suffered electric shocks.

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Western Power was fined $60,000 for each of the three offences to which it pleaded guilty on Friday in Perth Magistrates Court.

The company's contractors transposed wires while they were upgrading connections to houses in Bull Creek, Gooseberry Hill and Australind in February 2010.

Residents, including an 11-year-old boy, later felt electric shocks when they used taps and household appliances.

EnergySafety director of policy and electrical engineering Don Saunders said it was lucky no-one was seriously injured.

He said the fault could have been avoided by having two people on the job, adding there should also be follow-up checks on the work.

Source: AAP

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