Underground Power – TUPP

Community Survey

 

BACKGROUND

Western Power has approached the Town of Bassendean with a proposal for underground power in your area.

The project is subject to Council approval for a Co-Funding Agreement with Western Power.

The Town must contribute to the cost of network infrastructure (27%), with the State Government contributing 25% and Western Power contributing 48%. The Town will also need to pay for the cost of consumer mains connections (service connections).

The Town will need to levy a service charge on property owners for their proportion of the cost and borrow funds sufficient to make the cash call payments to Western Power.

Construction is expected to commence late-2023 or early-2024 and be complete by mid-2025.

 

 IMPORTANT

If the Town of Bassendean does not enter into an agreement for underground power, Western Power will replace the existing infrastructure with like-for-like infrastructure (overhead poles and wires) as part of its normal maintenance program. If that occurs, the Town may not have another opportunity to affordably install underground power in the project area for 40 to 50 years.

 

PROPOSAL

That Council approves the Town of Bassendean entering into a Co-Funding Agreement with Western Power for the provision of underground power to the project area.

That the Town of Bassendean recovers the cost of the project from property owners within the project area, as follows:

  • By levying a service charge as part of annual Rates Notices, commencing 2023/24
  • Providing property owners with the option to pay in full during 2023/24, or in instalments over either 7 years or 10 years
  • Providing a discount for properties with an existing underground consumer mains connection
  • Providing a discount for payment in full during 2023/24
  • For multi-unit development sites, spreading the cost of the consumer mains connection(s) equally.

 

BENEFITS OF UNDERGROUND POWER

  • Improved public safety
  • More street trees
  • Less tree pruning, improved tree canopy
  • Improved street appearance/aesthetic value
  • Improved reliability and security of power supply
  • Increased property value
  • Lower life‐cycle costs
  • Improved LED streetlighting and with future product offerings for smart streetlights
  • Improved opportunity for emerging technologies

 

COST OF THE PROJECT

Western Power has provided an E30 cost estimate for the project. E30 means the cost may increase or decrease by up to 30%. Western Power will provide the Town with an E10 estimate in due course, which is intended to be accurate to within 10%. Following execution of a contract with the successful tenderer, Western Power will provide the Town with the final cost for the project.

LGA means ‘Local Government Authority’ (the Town of Bassendean).

 

COST FOR PROPERTY OWNERS (SERVICE CHARGE)

The Town has used the E30 cost estimate provided by Western Power to estimate the service charge payable by property owners.

Notes:

  • Loan interest calculated at 6% per annum
  • For properties that require an underground consumer mains connection, the property owner will be required to contribute to both the Capex component and the Service Connection component
  • For properties with an existing underground consumer mains connection, the property owner will be required to the Capex component only.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

You are invited to complete the TUPP Underground Power Community Survey form by:

Completed forms can be returned to the Town at the Customer Service Centre at 35 Old Perth Rd, or by mail to PO Box 87, Bassendean WA 6934.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR SURVEY TO THE TOWN OF BASSENDEAN BY 5.00PM ON FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2022. ONLINE SURVEY CLOSES SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2022.

 

IMPORTANT

The Town will present the results of this survey to Council to help inform Council in its decision-making.

In completing this survey you are not “casting a vote” for or against the proposed project. Council, as the community’s elected representatives will decide whether the Town will enter into a Co-Funding Agreement with Western Power.

If Council decides to enter into a Co-Funding Agreement with Western Power, Council will make decisions about the amount of the service charge(s) to be imposed, repayment period(s) and other relevant matters regarding the project.

Decisions made by Council about the proposed project will apply to all property owners within the project area.

 

MORE INFORMATION

Visit Western Power’s website for more information on underground power:
https://www.westernpower.com.au/community/work-in-your-area/underground-power/

Contact Western Power for project-related questions:

• Email: undergroundpower@westernpower.com.au 
• Phone: 131 087

Contact the Town of Bassendean for information about Council decisions and costs:

• Email: mail@bassendean.wa.gov.au 
• Phone: 9377 8000

 

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WESTERN POWER FLYER