Access arrangement
Access arrangement
An access arrangement sets out the terms and conditions, including prices, for our direct customers such as generators, major users and retailers. Retailers (like Synergy) pass network charges through to households and businesses.
We submit a five-year proposal to the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) under the Electricity Networks Access Code 2004. The ERA consults publicly, reviews our proposal and decides the revenue we can recover and the service standards we must meet.
AA6 is our sixth five-year plan, covering 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032. We’re developing the proposal now, with community, customer and stakeholder input informing the services and investments we put forward.
Across 2025–2026 we’re inviting feedback on priorities, trade-offs and our draft plan, including through Community Working Groups and targeted sessions with residential, business, industry and local government customers. What we hear will shape the Initial Proposal and areas where we do deeper engagement.
It’s designed to serve the long-term interests of Western Australians by ensuring our essential services are delivered safely, reliably and efficiently, at a fair cost, with transparent decisions and opportunities to have a say through the determination process.
To avoid overlapping with the 2025 State Election caretaker period and to align with potential Access Code changes, a one-year deferral was approved in January 2025. The AA6 Initial Proposal is due 1 February 2027; the period still begins 1 July 2027, with 2027–28 tariffs carried over from 2026–27 and incentive mechanisms paused while the ERA completes its determination.
New access arrangement policies
The final policies will be published as part of the Economic Regulation Authority’s Final Decision, expected 31 March 2028. We’ll work closely with industry to prepare for the new policies, including updating our materials and customer information online.
The new policies take effect on 1 July 2028, when Western Power’s new access arrangement (AA6) commences. The access arrangement runs until 2032, when the policies will be reviewed again.
You’ll find more detail on the Economic Regulatory Authority’s page about Western Power’s Access Arrangement 6 and the ERA’s process here: Framework and approach AA6 (2027-2032) - Economic Regulation Authority Western Australia
Yes. After we submit our access arrangement and policies, the Economic Regulation Authority will publish them as part of its own consultation. You’ll be able to give feedback directly to the Economic Regulation Authority when it releases the access arrangement and policies for consultation.
We value feedback from customers and industry. We’ll prepare an insights report for each consultation draft and provide it to the Economic Regulatory Authority alongside the draft policies when we submit on 1 February 2027.
Email AA6@westernpower.com.au if you’d like guidance on how to make a submission.