Today, they supply the total power requirements for the company township of Bulolo, and also Wau and Highland Products at Zenag.

All the gold dredges were driven by electric motors and as more dredges were added, firstly the Lower Baiune, and then the Upper Baiune hydro- power stations were built.

These power stations were sabotaged in 1942, as part of the Australian army’s “Scorched Earth” policy. Consequently, extensive rehabilitation work was required after the end of WWII.

The electrical plant to rebuild the power stations was manufactured in 1944, and commissioned in 1946-1947. However, a fire in 1984 totally destroyed the Upper Baiune power station and it was rebuilt in 1985.

At Upper Baiune water is diverted from the Baiune River into a 1.6km long water race (open channel) which includes a 184 metre long tunnel. From the end of the race, a single penstock falls vertically 136 metres into the Upper Baiune power station. Upper Baiune uses two Pelton type water turbines running at 500 rpm, and each one of these drives a 1000 kW alternator, generating at 2,400 volts.

The water from the Upper Baiune tailrace discharges back into the Baiune River. Several hundred metres downstream it is again diverted into the Lower Baiune water race which is approximately 3km in length. From the end of this race the water falls vertically 162 metres through a single penstock into the Lower Baiune power station.

Lower Baiune has five water turbines of the Pelton type, running at 600 rpm, each powering a 700 kW GE alternator, which generates at 2,400 volts.

At both power stations voltage is stepped up to 33,000 volts by transformers. The two stations are linked by a 33,000 volt transmission line, and another 33,000 volt transmission line connects Lower Baiune to the main substation at Bulolo. The Bulolo town area, Wau and Edie Creek are supplied from the Bulolo Substation.

The Baiune hydro-electric power stations supply all the electricity consumed in the Wau and Bulolo areas.