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The City supports the conversion of overhead power to underground power, in partnership with the State Government, Western Power, Horizon Power and local governments.

WA’s electrical network was originally constructed overhead, but over time new technology has allowed us to move the network in high density areas to underground. This involves the removal of overhead power infrastructure (the Western Power wooden poles and wires) and the installation of new underground power and Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights.

In 1991 the State Government made a change that saw the power network for all new urban subdivisions be placed underground. Following major storms and outages in 1996, the idea of moving existing overhead networks underground heightened, and the State Underground Power Program (SUPP) was developed. SUPP ensures the cost of power underground is shared between the State Government, Western Power, local governments and property owners.

Currently there are two programs available to local governments to convert existing overhead power suburbs to underground power:

  • Network Renewal Undergrounding Program Pilot (NRUPP) – driven by Western Power and targeting areas with a high density of aging overhead assets.
  • Retrospective Undergrounding Projects (RUP) – generally funded directly by the Local Government and/or land developers.

Through previous State Underground Power Program (SUPP) projects there are now more homes and businesses within the City which have enhanced streetscape aesthetics, improved power reliability and security, reduce maintenance costs, and improved community safety.

Current projects

The City currently has two active projects:

With the completion of the Shelley West SUPP, the City of Canning ('the City') and Western Power will complete the undergrounding of the Shelley suburb with the Shelley East Retrospective Undergrounding Project (RUP). The project area is shown on the boundary map (PDF 2MB).

This project will:

  • deliver significant aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits
  • create local jobs for contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers associated with underground power projects.

Rate payers within the project area will have a service charge levied through their rates notice to cover the costs of the project. The City negotiated with Western Power for a deferral for the service charges for 12 months. This means the Shelley East RUP service charges will not be levied until the 2022-2023 financial year rates notice. The contribution amount is based on the existing property connection type (PDF 480KB).

There will be two payment method options available for the Shelley East RUP:

  1. Payment in full as part of the 2022-2023 rates notice; or
  2. Payment in annual instalments over a ten-year period, with applicable interest charges, commencing as part of the 2022-2023 rates notices.

Eligible pensioners and seniors are entitled to rebates on underground electricity charges as determined by the State Government, as per the guidelines set out below:

  1. Holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, State Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card WITH a WA Seniors Card, will be entitled to receive either up to 50% rebate or full deferral on underground electricity charges; or
  2. Holders of a WA Seniors Card, who do not hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, will be entitled to receive a single $100* rebate on underground electricity charges for the first year only of the scheme.

*The current rebate amount is $100 but is at the discretion of the Department of Finance.

We have collated FAQs (PDF 530KB) to assist with questions you may have regarding the project.

Further queries regarding the project can be directed to Anna Scantlebury at the City on 1300 422 664 or by emailing lighting@canning.wa.gov.au.

In 2017 the Minister for Energy announced the trial of a new funding model for undergrounding power. This enables Western Power to upgrade aging sections of the electricity grid from the overhead power lines to an underground network.

The St James Network Renewal Undergrounding Program Pilot (NRUPP) area covers portions of the suburbs of St James, Bentley and East Victoria Park. The St James NRUPP is being delivered in partnership with Western Power, City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park.

The project has been split into zones by Western Power. See the Zone Map for St James NRUPP for the project boundary and boundary between Town of Victoria Park and the City of Canning.

This project will:

  • deliver significant aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits
  • create local jobs for contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers associated with underground power projects.

For the project, Western Power covers the cost of the network infrastructure costs in the public space (within the road reserve), up to and including the pillar (green dome). A service charge will be levied through your rates notice to cover the costs to connect the consumer mains (from pillar to your house). The service charge will not apply to vacant land, as no consumer mains will be installed within vacant private land.

Properties with an existing underground consumer main will not be required to pay the service charge. There are three types of property connections:

  • only a ‘Type 1’ will be charged a $2,398 service charge
  • ‘Type 2a’ for a Cut and Cap will be charged a $1,135 service charge
  • ‘Type 2b’ and ‘Type 3’ have no service charge.

To determine what connection type you have, please see the property connection types (PDF 580KB).

Both councils have negotiated with Western Power a deferral for the service charges for 12 months. This means that the NRUPP service charges will not be levied until the 2022-2023 financial year rates notice.

There will be two payment method options available for the St James NRUPP:

  1. Payment in full as part of the 2022-2023 rates notice; or
  2. Payment in annual instalments over a ten-year period, with applicable interest charges, commencing as part of the 2022-2023 rates notices.

Eligible pensioners and seniors are entitled to rebates on underground electricity charges as determined by the State Government, as per the guidelines:

  1. Holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, State Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card WITH a WA Seniors Card, will be entitled to receive either up to 50% rebate or full deferral on underground electricity charges; or
  2. Holders of a WA Seniors Card, who do not hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, will be entitled to receive a single $100* rebate on underground electricity charges for the first year only of the scheme.

*The current rebate amount is $100 but is at the discretion of the Department of Finance.

We have collated FAQs (PDF 530KB) to assist with questions you may have regarding the project.

Further queries regarding the project can be directed to Anna Scantlebury at the City on 1300 422 664 or by emailing lighting@canning.wa.gov.au.

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