❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on electricity bill payment plans, disconnections, and reconnection times in several South West towns. The Minister provided disconnection numbers but declined to provide data on payment plans due to resource constraints.
AnsweredQoN 4245Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For each 2014-15 and 2015-16, how many people living in each of the following areas applied to pay their electricity bills by instalment: (a) Bunbury; (b) Busselton; (c) Margaret River; (d) Manjimup; and (e) Dunsborough? (2) In relation to (1) and for each of the years specified, how many of the applications received were approved in each of the following areas: (a) Bunbury; (b) Busselton; (c) Margaret River; (d) Manjimup; and (e) Dunsborough? (3) In each 2014-15 and 2015-16, how many people living in the following areas had their electricity supply cut due to non-payment of their electricity bills: (a) Bunbury; (b) Busselton; (c) Margaret River; (d) Manjimup; and (e) Dunsborough? (4) In relation to (3) and for each of the years specified, what was the longest period electricity supply was cut or turned off due to non-payment of electricity bills?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 September 2016
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
28 days
(1)-(2) It is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of Government resources to provide this information. If the Member has a more specific query, I will endeavour to provide a response. To manually extract all data for the required categories of the question would take considerable time and resources away from core Synergy business. Synergy is currently implementing new reporting systems which will allow this to be easily extracted.
(3)
2014-15
2015-16
(a)
Bunbury
123
154
(b)
Busselton
53
45
(c)
Margaret River
27
32
(d)
Manjimup
9
10
(e)
Dunsborough
15
15
(4) While there is no report that specifies the time between disconnection and reconnection, the vast majority of customers disconnected are reconnected by the following business day with a small number taking up to 3 to 5 business days (outlying areas or those with issues to access the meter such as a locked box / gate or dogs at the property). Synergy makes every effort to ensure that customers stay connected. Disconnecting customers is a last resort when all other attempts to arrange payment have failed.
(3)
2014-15
2015-16
(a)
Bunbury
123
154
(b)
Busselton
53
45
(c)
Margaret River
27
32
(d)
Manjimup
9
10
(e)
Dunsborough
15
15
(4) While there is no report that specifies the time between disconnection and reconnection, the vast majority of customers disconnected are reconnected by the following business day with a small number taking up to 3 to 5 business days (outlying areas or those with issues to access the meter such as a locked box / gate or dogs at the property). Synergy makes every effort to ensure that customers stay connected. Disconnecting customers is a last resort when all other attempts to arrange payment have failed.
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