FAQs

The practical, aesthetic and improved safety benefits of underground power include:

• Improved property values by enhancing streetscapes with the removal of ugly poles and wires to make the area more desirable to live in.
• Greater reliability of power supplies with almost total elimination of power supply interruptions caused by storms, trees, birds, vandalism, equipment failure and motor vehicle crashes with poles.
• Reduction in power supply surges due to overhead line faults and consequently a reduction in surge damage to electrical appliances and equipment.
• Better street lighting, which can help to deter crime and improve road safety.
• Reduction in tree pruning and ugly foliage deformation that sometimes occurs to keep branches clear of overhead wires.
• Safer environment with a reduction in hazards caused by broken wires and people pruning trees near power lines.
• Increased tree canopy in line with goals of the City’s Urban Forest Strategy outcomes.

It costs Western Power a lot less to deliver power to consumers by maintaining the overhead system instead of installing a new modern underground system. 

This program is unique in Australia because of the shared funding arrangements that reflect the benefits gained by property owners, the State Government and Western Power. Property owners will gain greatly enhanced streetscapes, better and more reliable power, brighter and safer streetlights and a safer public environment. 

An added benefit is the demonstrated increased property value.

If you have an underground power project in your area it means that the City has elected to be part of a program.

The LGA has the power under the West Australian Local Government Act 1995 to pass on infrastructure related charges onto property owners.

The results of the property owners survey indicated that a representative majority of property owners are in favour of the proposal to install underground power and accepting the cost of the installation.

It is not possible for an individual property owner to 'opt out' of the project as all overhead distribution power lines will be removed.

Property owners will not have to pay anything upfront for the works. The City will start to recoup the costs on behalf of Western Power in 23/24 financial year. Payment options will be available to spread out repayments over a number of years. 

Yes, the cost will include a new underground property service cable from the green dome near the front of your property to your meter.

Payment options will be developed to give property owners the option to pay in installments over a number of years.

All properties are checked for the type of existing connection. Where underground connections between the front of the property and the meter box already exist, the charge will be discounted according to the type of connection.

The property owner will be required to contribute to the network infrastructure cost referred to as the network charge.

Yes. The contractor carrying out the work will install a new private underground cable within each property and connect it to the meter box when the street main cable has been energised. The property owner becomes the owner of the private underground cable from the point that it leaves the pillar.

The location of the green dome is determined during the design process. Green domes are located in a front corner of the property, just inside the front boundary adjacent to a side boundary. Usually every second property has a green dome installed, with two adjoining properties being served by the one dome.

All overhead distribution poles and lines that service home and street lights will be removed. 

Due to excessive costs some transmission lines and poles will remain. The Western Power transmission lines along parts of x x and x  will not be removed.