Collier and Manning State Underground Power Project update

The State Underground Power Program (SUPP) replaces overhead power lines with underground power infrastructure. The Program is a partnership between the State Government, Western Power and local government and is administered by Energy Policy WA (formerly the Public Utilities Office). 

Western Power contractors are currently working in the Collier and Manning area as part of Round Six of the State Underground Power Program.

A survey of property owners was undertaken in 2016 by the Public Utilities Office. The survey provided the opportunity to vote yes or no for SUPP and resulted in strong support for the project. The survey provided an indicative average cost based on preliminary estimates for a typical single residence. 

While the overall costs of the project have increased significantly since this initial estimate, at the September 2020 Meeting, the Council accepted a $2.2 million COVID-19 financial relief package from Western Power for the Collier and Manning project areas. This package means that the average cost per single residence has remained the same as indicated in the 2016 survey.

Benefits of underground power

Council’s vision is to have underground power throughout the entire City and we are well underway to achieving this goal.

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

• Improved property values as a result of enhanced streetscapes
• Greater reliability of power supplies with almost total elimination of power interruptions
• Reduction in power supply surges and surge damage
• Better street lighting which can help deter crime and improve road safety
• Reduction in the need for tree pruning and foliage deformation
• Safer environment with a reduction in pole and wire related hazards
• Increased tree canopy, greener streets and significant reduction of summer heat.

Service charge

2021 Rate notices for property owners in the Manning and Collier underground power  project areas will include their SUPP connection fee and network charge.

The Connection fee is based on the status of the connection between the property boundary and the meter box as determined by Western Power.

The Network charge is the proportion of the project cost for connection to the property boundary.

These charges will be levied in five equal annual instalments and will be automatically included in the rate notice for property owners in the Manning and Collier underground power project areas each year.

Several models were considered to equitably apportion the owner contribution to the project cost with Council adopting a simple methodology based on three tiers of the property Gross Rental Value (GRV).

GRV is an estimate of the total rent (full year) that may be received from a property as determined by Landgate. For many years GRV has been used as part of the calculation to determine your rate charges. For more information about how GRV is calculated, visit the Landgate website.

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions - take a look at the State Underground Power Program FAQs to find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Project and works enquiries - for questions related to the timing of the project, site reinstatement or construction related activities, please contact Western Power at undergroundpower@westernpower.com.au.

Payment and billing enquiries
For information about payment and billing, please contact the City on 9474 0777 or email us at enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au.

To find out more about the SUPP projects in the City visit the Underground Power page of the website.