❓ Hon Martin Aldridge raises concerns about increased estimated Synergy bills due to a meter reader shortage. The response acknowledges the shortage, outlines contributing factors, and details mitigation strategies.
AnsweredQoN 643Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to Synergy increasingly issuing bills to customers with an estimated meter reading citing a shortage of meter readers, and I ask is there a shortage of meter readers in Western Australia? (2) If yes to (1), how many positions by FTE are currently vacant or understaffed? (3) Since 1 January 2022, how many Synergy customers have received an estimated bill arising from a lack of meter readers? (4) When is it expected that the shortage of meter readers will be resolved?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 May 2022
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
5 days
(1) From January 2022, meter reading resources have reduced significantly due to COVID-19 directions, a tight employment market in Western Australia, and extreme temperatures – with Perth experiencing the hottest summer on record.
(2) Western Power are approximately 13 FTE understaffed with respect to meter readers, with a target meter reader workforce of 64 FTE.
(3) Western Power has estimated 132,139 meters since 1 January 2022, approximately 10% of Western Power’s network.
(4) Western Power expects to return to regular staffing levels before the end of the financial year. Western Power has implemented several strategies to manage the resourcing issue going forward, including:
o changes to the meter reading contractors working arrangements to minimise the impact of extreme heat related absence;
o improving recruitment strategies with the meter reading contractor to improve recruitment potential and increase retention;
o deploying AMI meters to reduce the number of manually read meters, with a focus on reducing the most inefficient meter reading areas to improve customer experience
Western Power is also working with Synergy to mitigate customer impacts where possible.
(2) Western Power are approximately 13 FTE understaffed with respect to meter readers, with a target meter reader workforce of 64 FTE.
(3) Western Power has estimated 132,139 meters since 1 January 2022, approximately 10% of Western Power’s network.
(4) Western Power expects to return to regular staffing levels before the end of the financial year. Western Power has implemented several strategies to manage the resourcing issue going forward, including:
o changes to the meter reading contractors working arrangements to minimise the impact of extreme heat related absence;
o improving recruitment strategies with the meter reading contractor to improve recruitment potential and increase retention;
o deploying AMI meters to reduce the number of manually read meters, with a focus on reducing the most inefficient meter reading areas to improve customer experience
Western Power is also working with Synergy to mitigate customer impacts where possible.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.