❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding Synergy's A1 and K1 tariffs in the Central Wheatbelt, questioning potential discrimination and seeking clarification on tax deductibility. The Minister's response defends the tariff structure and clarifies its purpose.
AnsweredQoN 5192Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Synergy’s tariff system and differences to charging customers on the A1 Home Plan tariff compared to the K1 Home Business tariff, and ask: (a) How many customers in the Central Wheatbelt electorate or associated local government areas are currently charged an A1 tariff; (b) Over the same area, what is the average total annual bill amount charged to the customer on the A1 tariff; (c) How many customers in the Central Wheatbelt electorate or associated local government areas are currently charged a K1 tariff; (d) Over the same area, what is the average total annual bill amount charged to the customer on the K1 tariff; (e) If the average energy use of a customer being charged K1 rates is in line with customers in the same area being charged A1 rates, can Synergy or the Minister allow the discriminating tariff to be re-classified; (f) Has the Minister ever stepped in to remove discriminating electricity charges that he views as being unfairly applied to Synergy customers; and (g) Can customers on the K1 tariff claim a tax deduction for their electricity bills?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 August 2019
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
9 days
(a) 16,943 customers
(b) $1,664.76
(c) 2,024 customers
(d) $2,532.15
(e) The K1 tariff is not discriminative. The K1 tariff is available to customers who use electricity partly for residential purposes and partly for other purposes. An example is where a customer operates a business from their home. The structure of the tariff attempts to charge the residential portion of the electricity use at a residential rate, and any remaining electricity use at a small business rate. Given that K1 tariff customers use electricity for both residential and other purposes, it is not surprising that the average annual bill for a K1 customer is higher than the average annual bill for a (purely residential) A1 customer.
(f) No.
(g) This question seeks a legal opinion.
(b) $1,664.76
(c) 2,024 customers
(d) $2,532.15
(e) The K1 tariff is not discriminative. The K1 tariff is available to customers who use electricity partly for residential purposes and partly for other purposes. An example is where a customer operates a business from their home. The structure of the tariff attempts to charge the residential portion of the electricity use at a residential rate, and any remaining electricity use at a small business rate. Given that K1 tariff customers use electricity for both residential and other purposes, it is not surprising that the average annual bill for a K1 customer is higher than the average annual bill for a (purely residential) A1 customer.
(f) No.
(g) This question seeks a legal opinion.
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