Hon. Kate Doust raises concerns about high costs faced by local governments for upgrading power supplies for floodlighting junior sports facilities. Minister Collier acknowledges the issue, stating costs depend on infrastructure needs and Western Power's commercial obligations, offering to investigate specific cases.

AnsweredQoN 341Legislative Council
Asked
18 May 2011
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

FLOODLIGHTING — WESTERN POWER
(1) Does the government support the floodlighting of local parks and ovals for junior sporting purposes? (2) Is the minister aware that changes to Western Power charges and tariffs have meant that some local governments in the inner metropolitan area are being quoted hundreds of thousands of dollars just to upgrade power supplies for the installation of a floodlight? (3) Will the minister undertake to stop Western Power imposing over-the-top charges on junior sporting clubs and councils just so that they can have safe, night training conditions; and, if not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
(2) Is the minister aware that changes to Western Power charges and tariffs have meant that some local governments in the inner metropolitan area are being quoted hundreds of thousands of dollars just to upgrade power supplies for the installation of a floodlight? (3) Will the minister undertake to stop Western Power imposing over-the-top charges on junior sporting clubs and councils just so that they can have safe, night training conditions; and, if not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
(3) Will the minister undertake to stop Western Power imposing over-the-top charges on junior sporting clubs and councils just so that they can have safe, night training conditions; and, if not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
(1) Yes. (2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
(2) Western Power’s tariffs are not related to the upgrade of power supplies for the installation of a floodlight. The cost to upgrade a power supply depends on the infrastructure upgrade necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant local government. This varies depending on the load required and the existing network in the area. If the member has specific details, I would be pleased to investigate and provide a detailed response. We can do that behind the chair or the member can ask the question in the chamber if she likes, but I am more than willing to work with her on that question. (3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.
(3) As outlined in the response to (2), the cost to upgrade power supply is dependent on the particular requirements of the local government and the existing network. Western Power would be pleased to work with any local government to upgrade power supply at minimum cost. However, in line with its commercial obligations, Western Power must recover the full cost of customer-requested work that requires the installation of additional infrastructure.

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