The South West is a regional economic powerhouse – generating $12.4 billion in 2009-10. 
Powering Business
Energy
When you flick on a light or turn on the TV from somewhere in the South West region, chances are you are using electricity produced by coal from the mining town of Collie.
A significant percentage of the State's power supply is generated from Collie coal.
Coal is mined in the Collie basin and transformed into electricity, which is fed into the State's power grid.
The South West Interconnected System (SWIS), an electricity network consisting of about 88,000 kilometres of powerlines, is the biggest interconnected network in Western Australia. It extends from Kalbarri in the north, east to Kalgoorlie, and south to Albany.
Local coal-fired power stations include the Bluewaters Power Station, Collie Power Station and Muja Power Station.
The Kemerton Power Station, which comprises two open cycle gas turbine, operates as a peaking plant.
In July 2010, the State Government granted conditional approval to two power station projects in the South West - the expansion of the Bluewaters power station at Collie and the refurbishment of the Muja A/B power station.
The Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) transports gas from the North West Shelf to customers in the South West.
Useful links
Government
of Western Australia - Office of Energy
Western
Power
Synergy
Verve
Energy
Coal mined in Collie is used to generate electricity at power stations in the South West region.
