Underground Power Service Charges
What is the Underground Power Service Charge?
The Underground Power Service Charge is a cost passed on by the City to properties in an underground power project area. It reflects the gap between the total project cost and Western Power’s contribution.
The total Underground Power Service Charge for each property consists of two components:
- Network charge – this is determined by property type (residential or commercial) and the associated demand for network capacity, as allocated by Western Power.
- Connection charge – this is dependent on whether the property has an existing underground consumer main, the location of the main electrical switchboard to which the mains supply is connected and the number of electricity meters that share a mains supply.
To learn more about Underground Power Service Charges and how they are calculated please see our Underground Power Service Charges FAQs here.
Who is paying Underground Power Service Charges in 2025/26?
In the 2025/26 financial year properties in the North Perth/Mt Hawthorn project area (Western Power project 343) will receive an Underground Power Service Charge on their rates notice.
- If you own property within this project area, the service charge specific to that property will appear on your rates notice.
- If you do not own property within the North Perth/Mount Hawthorn project area, you will not receive an Underground Power Service Charge in 2025/26.
To find which project area your property falls is in, visit our interactive map.
How will I be billed for my Underground Power Service Charge?
Your service charge will appear as a line item on your rates notice and will form part of the total bill.
- If you responded to the City’s advance notification letter (sent 4 November 2024) and opted to pay your Underground Power Service Charge over four years, then one quarter of the total charge will appear on your rates notice in the 2025/26 financial year. The same amount will appear on your rates notice in 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years. This four-year payment option attracts an interest charge because the City needs to borrow money to cover undergrounding costs in the interim.
- If you opted to pay your Underground Power Service Charge in full in 2025/26, then the total charge will appear on your rates notice in 2025/26. No further charges for underground power will appear on rates notices in subsequent years.
- If you did not respond to the City’s advance notification letter, the total service charge will appear on your rates notice in 2025/26.
What are my payment options for Underground Power Service Charges?
Your Underground Power Service Charge is part of your total rates bill, the payment options are the same as for a regular rates bills. See here.