ELECTRICITY COSTS ARE RISING:
WHAT SCHOOLS NEED TO KNOW
Electricity costs in Western Australia continue to rise. While residential customers are not feeling the full impact due to government regulation, schools – like most other business customers are already experiencing increases of 50% or more. Further increases are coming as the grid transitions to include more renewables. Electricity costs in Western Australia continue to rise. While residential customers are not feeling the full impact due to government regulation, schools – like most other business customers are already experiencing increases of 50% or more. Further increases are coming as the grid transitions to include more renewables.
Costs throughout the electricity system are increasing.
The cost of producing energy is increasing as low-cost coal fired electricity is phased out. Gas-power generation costs have increased as gas prices are linked to international prices.
WA’s shift to renewables like wind and solar aims to cut emissions and long-term costs, but upfront investment in renewables and higher priced gas powered generation is driving short-term electricity costs up.
Western Power’s network costs are increasing at a rate above inflation as the grid needs to be re-structured to accommodate more roof-top solar and huge investments in transmission lines to allow wind and solar farm connections.
To incentivise investment in renewable energy and large-scale batteries, the system includes fixed generator payments—known as Capacity Payments. Supporting this transition has led to significant increases in these costs, which are funded by all customers.
The costs to operate the electricity market have increased substantially. These include paying for new grid-support services that can react extremely fast so that the grid remains stable.
Installing Solar is Only One Option
WA continues to see a strong uptake of rooftop solar. A solar PV system will reduce costs in the short term but will still leave customers exposed to many of the network, capacity and market charges that are fixed and are not reduced with the installation of solar PV.
Join our LIVE Webinar and Q&A
Date & Time: Tuesday, 12th August 2025 | 10:00 AM AWST
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Hosted by: Change Energy
Presenters:
Geoff Gaston, Chief Executive Officer, Change Energy
Rodney Littlejohn Commercial Manager, Change Energy
Overview:
Join Change Energy’s CEO and Commercial Manager for an insightful webinar exploring the transformative potential of battery storage solutions for schools. This session will delve into how integrating battery systems can lead to significant energy cost savings, enhance sustainability, and provide educational opportunities for students.
Key Topics:
Benefits of battery storage in educational settings
Cost-saving strategies through energy management
Q&A session to address your specific queries
Who Should Attend:
School administrators, facility managers, sustainability coordinators, and educators interested in energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how battery storage can revolutionise energy use in schools, leading to financial savings and a greener future.
Change Energy Managed Energy Services
Change Energy is currently the only retailer offering a service to operate batteries in a way that passes savings directly onto customers.
Our goal is to deliver real cost reductions to schools and educational institutions by using battery technology smarter. By storing energy during the middle of the day and using this stored energy during peak times, we can help customers cut down their energy bills without changing how they use power.
But we don’t stop there.
As a locally owned and truly independent retailer, Change Energy was built on the belief that energy providers should do better. We’re committed to changing the way customer service is handled in the energy sector, offering genuine support, clear answers, expert support and real relationships – not call centre run-arounds.
With a team of industry experts who’ve spent decades in the electricity market, we combine deep expertise with hands-on tailored service. That means no guesswork, no generic solutions – just smarter energy made simple.
Stay Tuned
Watch for further updates, we will take you inside the journey of how we’re working directly with schools and education leaders to implement smart, future-focused energy solutions. From battery storage systems to demand management strategies, we’re helping schools reduce their dependence on the grid and take greater control over when and how they use electricity.
Our goal is to help schools not only manage current costs, but future-proof their energy use against the continuing rise in electricity prices. Each issue will spotlight practical solutions, real-world case studies, and the long-term benefits of smarter energy choices.