In response to the challenges faced by some households in meeting the cost of energy, the State Government established the Tariff and Concession Framework (TCF) Review. The TCF Review is a partnership between the Office of Energy and the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS).

The TCF Review will investigate ways to ensure that electricity used for essential services remains affordable for all Western Australians. Essential uses of energy include space and water heating, lighting, cooking and refrigeration.

Options to be considered by the TCF Review include the potential for alternative tariff and concession structures. Options will be assessed in terms of their capacity to:
improve the affordability of electricity used for essential services;
equitably allocate electricity system and other supply costs;
promote energy efficiency;
reduce demand for electricity during peak periods;
provide targeted assistance to those that most require it; and
allow for the efficient and full recovery of the cost of supplying electricity.
Specific tariff structures to be examined include Inclining Block Tariffs (IBTs), where the price of electricity increases with consumption and IBTs with a Time of Use component. Issues to be considered in the assessment of alternative tariff structures include the way in which they are administered, targeted and accessed.

To support the work of the TCF Review, the Office of Energy will commission a large survey of households in mid 2011, examining the relationships between various household characteristics and energy consumption. The survey will cover both metropolitan and regional Western Australia.

Public consultation, including community consultation forums and the release of an issues paper for public comment, is an important part of the TCF Review and informed advice to the Minister for Energy. Advice was provided to the Minister for Energy in August 2011 and is currently under consideration as part of the 2012/13 State Budget process.

Please follow link for copy of Western Power's submission

The PUO will publish the survey report and data in mid-2012.