❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about the limited availability of personnel to reconnect power in the Albany, Mt Barker, Denmark, and Katanning region after disconnection for non-payment, and the resulting delays. The Minister's answer details Western Power's procedures for debt recovery and reconnection.
AnsweredQoN 1728Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that in the Albany, Mt Barker, Denmark and Katanning region there is only one person available to reconnect power after it has been disconnected for residents unable to pay their bills?
(2) Is the Minister also aware that some residents have had to wait up to 48 hours to be reconnected?
(2) Is the Minister also aware that some residents have had to wait up to 48 hours to be reconnected?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2003
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
28 days
Western Power considers the disconnection of a consumers electricity supply a last resort and is only undertaken following extensive recovery attempts by Western Power. Where appropriate, Western Power encourages concession cardholders to join Centrelink’s “Centrepay” scheme. Under the scheme, Centrelink deducts an agreed fortnightly amount from the customer’s pension and pays the amount directly to Western Power. Western Power also offers a ‘Budget Card’ to all Western Power customers. The Western Power Budget Card allows customers to pay amounts of $20 or more in advance towards their next bill. Western Power has a dedicated Field Credit Officer in Albany. One of their functions is to manage the overdue debt in Albany, Mount Barker, Denmark and Katanning. It is the Field Credit Officer’s role to visit the customer, discuss why the account has not been paid the likely outcomes and if possible negotiate a repayment plan to avoid disconnection. If the account still is not paid, it is the Field Credit Officer’s role to disconnect a customer’s premise for non- payment. The same officer performs the reconnection of supply. In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
Western Power also offers a ‘Budget Card’ to all Western Power customers. The Western Power Budget Card allows customers to pay amounts of $20 or more in advance towards their next bill. Western Power has a dedicated Field Credit Officer in Albany. One of their functions is to manage the overdue debt in Albany, Mount Barker, Denmark and Katanning. It is the Field Credit Officer’s role to visit the customer, discuss why the account has not been paid the likely outcomes and if possible negotiate a repayment plan to avoid disconnection. If the account still is not paid, it is the Field Credit Officer’s role to disconnect a customer’s premise for non- payment. The same officer performs the reconnection of supply. In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
Western Power has a dedicated Field Credit Officer in Albany. One of their functions is to manage the overdue debt in Albany, Mount Barker, Denmark and Katanning. It is the Field Credit Officer’s role to visit the customer, discuss why the account has not been paid the likely outcomes and if possible negotiate a repayment plan to avoid disconnection. If the account still is not paid, it is the Field Credit Officer’s role to disconnect a customer’s premise for non- payment. The same officer performs the reconnection of supply. In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
Western Power also offers a ‘Budget Card’ to all Western Power customers. The Western Power Budget Card allows customers to pay amounts of $20 or more in advance towards their next bill. Western Power has a dedicated Field Credit Officer in Albany. One of their functions is to manage the overdue debt in Albany, Mount Barker, Denmark and Katanning. It is the Field Credit Officer’s role to visit the customer, discuss why the account has not been paid the likely outcomes and if possible negotiate a repayment plan to avoid disconnection. If the account still is not paid, it is the Field Credit Officer’s role to disconnect a customer’s premise for non- payment. The same officer performs the reconnection of supply. In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
Western Power has a dedicated Field Credit Officer in Albany. One of their functions is to manage the overdue debt in Albany, Mount Barker, Denmark and Katanning. It is the Field Credit Officer’s role to visit the customer, discuss why the account has not been paid the likely outcomes and if possible negotiate a repayment plan to avoid disconnection. If the account still is not paid, it is the Field Credit Officer’s role to disconnect a customer’s premise for non- payment. The same officer performs the reconnection of supply. In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
In exceptional circumstances local Western Power line crews assist in reconnecting power supplies after disconnection for non-payment to ensure waiting periods are kept to a minimum.
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