Underground Power

The total project cost is currently estimated to be $43.5 million. The City is required to contribute about $25.2 million. Under the City's Underground Power Policy, 50 per cent of the City's contribution is recoverable from ratepayers receiving underground power. The remaining cost will be covered by Western Power.

If you already have a ‘green dome’, you will not need to pay the full amount.  You will still need to pay an amount to contribute towards the undergrounding of existing overhead powerlines. 

Yes, residents can have a green dome installed before the underground power rollout, if they organise and pay for its instalment.

In a business case developed for the project, benefits identified for the affected areas included increased property values, improved reliability of electricity supply, improved energy efficient street lighting and improved visual amenity.

Benefits to the wider community include improved reliability of power supply during severe weather events, improved visual amenity, improved health and safety (reduced electrical contact injuries, reduced power pole collisions, improved lighting) and reduced environmental impact (reduced herbicides and pesticides around wooden poles). 

More information regarding the benefits can be found via Western Power’s website.

The business case identified significant costs that the City and affected residents will need to pay.  Recent estimates suggest that the total cost of the project may be around $43.5 million.  The cost to the City and its ratepayers will be approximately $25.2 million, with Western Power contributing approximately $18.3 million.

As part of the City’s Underground Power Policy, the City’s overall funds would contribute 50% of the City’s proportion of costs (approximately $12.6m) and ratepayers in the affected areas would contribute the other 50%. The City’s contribution would ultimately come from the rates of all ratepayers, but in the interim, the City will potentially need to borrow money. This would accrue interest and could impact on the City’s future borrowing capacity or its ability to secure future funding and loans.

The impacts of the City portion of funding include opportunity cost (less money would be available to fund other projects within the City, including new projects and maintaining existing assets) as well as additional personal cost to affected ratepayers via an increased charge on their council rates.

At its 28 May 2024 meeting, Council agreed to proceed with underground power in Floreat (Nedlands North) and Mt Claremont (Nedlands West). Construction in Floreat is likely to commence in August 2024 and is expected to be completed by March 2025. (subject to confirmation from Western Power).  Construction in Mt Claremont is likely to commence thereafter with completion by mid 2026.

Yes, you will still need to pay for the undergrounding of power in your area. You will still receive the benefits of underground power, such as improved power reliability, better lighting, improved streetscape, and fewer street poles and overhead wires. 

The distribution line on a street will be placed underground as part of proposed underground power projects, while the transmission line will remain. These streets will still receive many of the benefits of an underground power network including improved reliability, security, street lighting, visual amenity and increased capacity to facilitate the integration of more renewables.

If you do live in one of these streets, you may be offered a discount.

Undergrounding transmission lines comes at a significant cost. The undergrounding of transmission lines in the City is not currently part of the project scope. 

You will not need to pay the full amount, as you will not need to pay the connection fee. You will still need to pay an amount to contribute towards the undergrounding of existing overhead powerlines.

Any remaining amount of money owing would be payable to the Council on settlement of the property sale (as with any other outstanding Council rates).

Each ratepayer will have the option to pay the full amount in one payment or spread over four years. If you are concerned about your ability to pay, please contact the Council.