❓ Ms. Beard questions the Treasurer about Western Power's proposed street lighting cost increase for local governments and its potential impact on ratepayers. The Treasurer acknowledges the proposal, cites the ERA's review process, and mentions the LED lighting upgrade as a cost driver.
AnsweredQoN 277Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER —
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STREET LIGHTING
277. Ms M. BEARD to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
upcoming budget and Western Power's proposal to raise the cost of
street lighting to local governments by an average of 44 per cent from 1 July.
Does the Treasurer support this proposal; and, if so, does he accept that this
is a cost shift from state to local government that may necessitate rate rises
across affected local government authorities with costs likely to be passed on
to ratepayers and households?
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STREET LIGHTING
277. Ms M. BEARD to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
upcoming budget and Western Power's proposal to raise the cost of
street lighting to local governments by an average of 44 per cent from 1 July.
Does the Treasurer support this proposal; and, if so, does he accept that this
is a cost shift from state to local government that may necessitate rate rises
across affected local government authorities with costs likely to be passed on
to ratepayers and households?
AnswerView source ↗
The matter will be examined by the
Economic Regulation Authority, as is required by law, and obviously it will be
subject to further consideration in the future. I understand Western Power is
in the process of changing out a lot of the streetlights around communities in Western
Australia from the current lighting arrangement to LED lighting, which has some
significant capital costs associated with it. Of course, LED lighting in the
longer term has lower costs associated with it as well as lower emissions and
consumption of electricity. I understand that that is what is driving this, but
it is a matter that the ERA will consider in the future.
Economic Regulation Authority, as is required by law, and obviously it will be
subject to further consideration in the future. I understand Western Power is
in the process of changing out a lot of the streetlights around communities in Western
Australia from the current lighting arrangement to LED lighting, which has some
significant capital costs associated with it. Of course, LED lighting in the
longer term has lower costs associated with it as well as lower emissions and
consumption of electricity. I understand that that is what is driving this, but
it is a matter that the ERA will consider in the future.
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