FAQs

The cost of undergrounding power is split between Western Power and the ratepayer. 

A service charge is the amount to be charged to properties in the project area and reflects the Western Power charge, which consists of:

• Network charge – this is determined by property type (residential or commercial) and the associated demand for network capacity as allocated by Western Power.
• Connection fee – this is dependent on whether the property has an existing underground consumer main, the location of the main electrical switchboard to which the mains supply is connected and the number of electricity meters that share a mains supply.

Western Power and Vincent have committed to work together toward converting overhead distribution powerlines to underground power, delivering reliable and safe power for almost 16,000 properties in Vincent across eight project areas.

The cost of this major project will be shared between Western Power and ratepayers:

• Western Power will fund part of the network charge.

This is the cost of removing power poles, placing overhead distribution cables below ground, and installing new streetlights. This cost will vary by project area.

• Ratepayers will fund the balance of the network charge, plus a connection fee.

The connection fee is the cost of underground cable connection between your own property and the new network i.e., between the Green Dome located at the boundary of the property and the building(s).

Ratepayers will pay one single service charge, which is the combined total of the network charge for their area and applicable connection fee for their property.

The City of Vincent will be taking out loans with the Western Australian Treasury Corporation to fund the four-year repayment options. 

The loans will need to be included in the City's 2025/26 Annual Budget before Vincent can apply for them. 

To ensure we will be able to fund the four-year repayment option for those who need it, we require advance notice of how many ratepayers will be using the program.  

If you choose to take the four-year instalment option, interest will be applied. 

Priority for the four-year instalment option will be provided to pensioners and those experiencing financial hardship.

If the meter box at your property is already connected via underground cable to a ‘Green Dome’, you will not be charged a connection fee, however you will still have to pay the balance of the network charge.

The underground power service charge is made up of two components: 

Customer connection fee/charge

This is the cost of the underground cable connection between your property and the new underground network. In other words, between the Green Dome located at the boundary of your property and your electricity meter.

If you already have this underground connection from your meter box to a green dome (or pit) on your property boundary, you will not be charged a customer connection fee and will only pay the network charge. 

Network charge

This is the cost of removing power poles from streets, undergrounding the distribution cables that those power poles support, ground-mounting the transformers and switchgear that currently sit on top of power poles and replacing streetlights that are currently attached to power poles with new streetlight poles and LED fittings. 

These network infrastructure items serve everyone in the project area, including properties that have previously had their customer connection undergrounded. 

For this reason, all property owners are required to contribute to the cost of undergrounding this common network infrastructure. 

Western Power is contributing 88% of the network cost. 

Ratepayers are required to contribute the remaining 12%. This equates to a network charge of $2,078 per residential property. 

Businesses are charged a variable network charge based on the demand they place on the network. Some small businesses will receive a network charge similar to a residential property because they use very little power, while large businesses with high electricity demand will pay more.

Property owners holding either a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card, or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card together with a WA Seniors Card will be entitled to a 50 per cent State Government rebate on underground power charges, proportionate to their share of the property. This rebate applies to the pensioner’s primary residence, not to investment properties.  

The total amount of service charges shown on the letter sent to ratepayers in November 2024 is the total amount prior to subtraction of the pensioner rebate. Pensioners who have already registered with City of Vincent to receive the State Government rebate for rates and service charges, don’t need to register again – their rebate will be applied automatically to the underground power service charges. 

For pensioners who choose to pay by instalments, the 50 per cent rebate will be applied to each instalment. These instalments will be subject to the applicable loan interest rate as stated in the letter received in November 2024. 

Ratepayers who select the four-year payment option and become eligible pensioners during the four-year repayment period will be eligible for the pensioner rebate on payments made after they become eligible. 

State Government Seniors Card holders can access a fixed rebate of $100, for payment in full, proportionate to their share of the property.

Visit ConcessionsWA for more information.

The service charge = network charge + connection charge.

The network charge covers costs outside your property boundary. The connection charge covers costs inside your property boundary. 

There is a flat-fee network charge for residential property. The network charge for commercial property is individually calculated.

The connection charge is standard for all properties. 

You are receiving a network charge, but not a connection charge. 

The network charge reflects your property’s share of the wider network, which has not previously been undergrounded. You are not receiving a charge for work already completed.

Properties that already have an underground consumer main should not need to be accessed for works to be completed. 

Verge access will be required by the contractor, who will be in contact some weeks in advance. 

A project staging schedule will also be made available on the City’s website this month, showing where works will be happening at different times, so that you can prepare for works in your area.

The relevant legislation includes:

• The Local Government Act 1995 - 6.38 Service Charges
• The Local Government Financial Management Regulations 1996  - Regulation 54 defines ‘prescribed work’.