📜 Electricity Industry Amendment (Capital Charges) Bill 2026

Assented toLABill 656 May 2026

This Bill amends the Electricity Industry Act 2004 to establish a Capital Charges Scheme for Western Australia. It introduces new provisions for capital charges for access to electricity transmission systems and mechanisms to ensure network service providers do not earn excessive revenue.

Impact

This Bill affects network service providers and entities seeking to connect to or use certain electricity transmission systems in Western Australia. It matters because it aims to increase certainty around access charges and regulate revenue for electricity network services, potentially influencing investment and operational costs in the energy sector.

Key Changes

["Inserts a new Part 9C into the Electricity Industry Act 2004 to establish a Capital Charges Scheme.", "Introduces 'capital charges' for access to services provided by network service providers via relevant transmission networks.", "Mandates 'adjustment mechanisms' to ensure network service providers do not earn more revenue than permitted under existing regulations if the new scheme had not been introduced.", "Allows for regulations and the Code to define circumstances for capital charges, their amounts, and eligibility criteria.", "Inserts a new Part 12 for transitional provisions related to the Capital Charges Act 2026."]

Parliamentary Progress

LA IntroducedLA6 May 2026
LA Second Reading MovedLA6 May 2026
LA Second Reading SpeechLA6 May 2026
LA Consideration in DetailLA10 June 2026
LA Second Reading AgreedLA10 June 2026
LA Third ReadingLA10 June 2026
LC Second Reading MovedLC16 June 2026
LC First ReadingLC16 June 2026
LC Second Reading SpeechLC16 June 2026
LC Second Reading AgreedLC11 Aug 2026
LC Third ReadingLC13 Aug 2026
Royal Assent19 Aug 2026

Affected Sectors

utilities

Penalty Provisions1 found

unclear

129ZDUnclear

Unauthorised disclosure of information to Coordinator

“(2) If information is disclosed under this section — (a) no civil or criminal liability is incurred for the disclosure; and (b) the disclosure is not — (i) a breach of any duty of confidentiality or secrecy imposed by law; or (ii) a breach of professional ethics or standards or any principles of conduct applicable to a person’s employment; or (iii) unprofessional conduct.”

View on Parliament website →Bill PDF EM PDF