Thiess, part of the Leighton Holdings group, has been awarded a new contract by Western Power to work with the energy provider to upgrade and maintain its electrical distribution network throughout metropolitan Perth, as well as the south-west and mid north-west regions of Western Australia. [ + ]

The Queensland Electrical Safety Office has issued a safety alert to highlight the risks associated with direct current (DC) isolators used in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. When terminating electrical conductors into isolators and circuit breakers, it is paramount that connections are secure under the terminal clamp especially where DC is involved. [ + ]

The Australian Solar Council, together with international partner Australian PV Solar Energy Exhibition (AUPVSEE), will present the annual Solar Conference & Exhibition at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 23 to 24 May 2013. [ + ]

Meyertech and Comnet have joined forces to deliver a complete CCTV control room network infrastructure and video management solution. [ + ]

Master Electricians Australia has urged the state government to reinstate first home owner bonus grants as falling new home approval rates hurt smaller contractors within the construction and electrical industry in Victoria. [ + ]

In a week when broadband policy has been the focus of much-needed debate, a new international survey has shown Australia slipping further behind key competitors in terms of our readiness to use and make the most of information technology, said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. [ + ]

A recent study conducted by University of Technology’s Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF), as commissioned by the Total Environment Centre, has highlighted the absolute lack of disclosure by Australia’s electricity retailers regarding the origin of energy sources. [ + ]

NECA has welcomed the launch of today’s small-business campaign and said it will give the campaign its full support.The Small Business - Too Big to Ignore campaign, which was officially launched in Western Sydney in front of an audience of more than 600 small business owners including representatives from NECA, is designed to put small business centre stage in the run-up to September’s federal election. [ + ]

The Siemens Industry Automation Division and Bentley Systems announced at the Hannover Messe Fair that they are stepping up their strategic collaboration, focusing on the process industry sector in fields such as chemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas. [ + ]

CBD Energy (ASX:CBD), a diversified Australian renewable energy company, has negotiated a sublicence for use of the Westinghouse Solar brand and technologies in Australia. [ + ]

ABB, the global power and automation technology group, has launched Emax 2, a low-voltage circuit breaker with integrated energy management functions. Replacing existing traditional breakers with the Emax 2 breaker has the potential to achieve annual savings of 5.8 million megawatt hours (MWh), according to the company. [ + ]

Graybar, the Fortune 500, US-headquartered distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, has announced the opening of a new branch in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the addition of a customer counter and on-site inventory to its existing location in Hudson Valley, New York. [ + ]

Power and automation technology group ABB has been appointed the main electrical contractor (MEC) for a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at the Ichthys oil and gas field in the Timor Sea off Western Australia. [ + ]

Wheatland Tube, North America’s manufacturer of steel electrical conduit, has appointed Dennis Fowler as the Southeast Regional Sales Manager, Electrical Division. Fowler has more than 25 years of industry experience and most recently worked for Cooper Wiring Devices division of Eaton. [ + ]

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has today urged the NSW Government to take immediate action toward legislating the mandatory fitting of safety switches in all NSW homes following a recent spate of severe electrical safety incidents. [ + ]