Bah humbug.
So here I go again, writing to Western Power's CEO Mr Guy Chalkley on their Facebook page, asking Western Power to explain their quote of $27 000 to install power to our new home.
Dear Mr Chalkley,
My name is Kate Sofoulis and my husband is Michael. Michael receives a Disability Support Pension as a result of ill health from 37 years working in the mining industry. I am his carer. We live in Beverley.
Back on 6 July 2012, we became owners of two blocks of land directly next to each other. Lot 123 Vincent Street was occupied by the Forbes Building and was 810 square metres in size. Lot 420 No Street Address was vacant with an area of 272 square metres.
These two blocks have always been separate blocks with separate titles, as designated by the Shire of Beverley and the Titles Department.
Due to the construction of our new house on Lot 420 No Street Address, we were aware that we would need to provide underground power to this property. Lot 123 was already connected to power from the existing power poles. The only other alteration we made was to move the property line between the blocks by 3.5 metres to increase the size of Lot 420 No Street Address by 70 square metres to around 340 square metres.
Unbeknown to us, changing the property line initiated the involvement of the WA Planning Commission, changes of names on our blocks and WAPC designating we were producing a new subdivision. Hence, Western Power also chose to treat our situation as a new subdivision.
As a result, Western Power considers us to be property developers and is levying charges for infrastructure that should already be present. Our dealings with them have been difficult. Our contact from Automated Surveys has had questions unanswered for weeks. Our electrical contractor has suffered from similar obstructive behaviour. He was told that Western Power could not respond to his questions until after replying to Automated Surveys. Which Western Power haven’t.
We have also been in a disagreement with Western Power for the placement of their power line across Lot 420 No Street Address to an adjacent business. This line is within half a metre of our roof, which contravenes its own safety measures. When we asked Western Power to move this line, their response was that we would have to pay for these works.
The crux of this matter is that Western Power wants to charge us $27 000 for underground connection of power to both our new home and the existing building on Lot 123 and the relocation of a power pole. Although Western Power has also received our house plans, they have designated placing this power pole directly in front of our carport, as it is drawn on the plans.
Western Power has come up with a convoluted plan that is difficult to comprehend. Our electrical contractor has attempted to speak to Western Power, to no avail. We have been given absolutely no room for negotiation of costs or works.
We stand by our statement that we have not created a new subdivision. And because there have always been two separate blocks at these locations, all infrastructures for power and water provision should have been completed for the two blocks from the time of their inception.
The placement of the power line over the roof of our house was carried out by Western Power some years ago without any due consideration of the impact on Lot 420 No Street Address. And if Western Power failed to carry out the necessary infrastructure required for two separate blocks, we do not believe this is our problem either.
Please, Mr Chalkley, we are aware that we are in a unique situation, but we are not property developers. We are trying to simplify our lives. We have both been taxpayers. We cannot afford
$27 000 to connect power to our new house.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Sofoulis.
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