Perth Voice Interactive

STIRLING mayor Giovanni Italiano has blasted Western Power for whacking councils with a new fee that adds 13.9 per cent to their energy bill.

He says ratepayers will inevitably end up wearing the cost of the utility’s “double dipping”.

Western Power has decided its customers should wear the costs arising from its capital contributions and value of gifted assets at a tax recovery rate of 13.9 per cent. If you don’t know what that means join the club—except you can be sure it’ll mean more money out of your pocket.

Cr Italiano says the move will impact the council’s ability to delivery capital works projects like street lighting.

“Once again when this cost is passed on via rates, it will be the local governments who cop the public criticism for increasing rates,” he says.

“[Western Power] are a profitable organisation and in the city’s view, transferring such costs back to local government is a way of hiding these costs being passed onto the consumer— disguised in rates.

“WP were gifted these assets for which they get the opportunity to derive revenue from.

“The City encourages the WA local government association to mount a fight on this matter on behalf of all local government.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK