Underground power works across parts of the City of South Perth are underway, not merely planned. The City says construction began in November 2025 and was more than 25% complete as of 7 October 2026. The project covers more than 2,000 properties across South Perth, Kensington and Waterford, with completion currently expected by mid-to-late 2027.
What the project covers
The Kensington Underground Power Project is being delivered by Western Power in partnership with the City of South Perth through the Network Renewal Undergrounding Program Pilot (NRUPP) Tranche 2. Its areas include Kensington, Waterford Triangle, Collier Reserve and remaining pockets of the City. The project does not mean every street in South Perth is being worked on at the same time; use the City’s project map and zone schedule to check whether an address is included and its estimated timing.
The City’s announced scope is removal of 678 poles, replacement of 29 kilometres of overhead powerlines and installation of 552 new LED streetlights. These are project-wide scope figures, not a description of work completed to date.
Construction progress and timing
In an update dated 7 October 2026, the City reported that the project was more than 25% complete. It said 29 of 53 kilometres of underground cable had been installed, 506 customer connections made and 37 of the planned 552 streetlights erected. Key primary equipment works were also underway.
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- RECHARGEABLE & PORTABLE:Powered by a built-in rechargeable lithium battery,supporting universal Type-C charging for convenient daily power replenishment.The full package comes with all the accessories you need for out-of-the-box use:transmitter,receiver,matching earphones,portable carrying bag,and user manual
The City’s overall estimate is completion by mid-to-late 2027. Individual zone estimates on the project page range from mid-to-late 2026 to mid-2027; those dates are forecasts and may change as construction progresses. Check the live zone schedule for the latest estimate. The City says the contractor notifies residents at key stages and before planned work.
Why is the City installing underground power?
The City describes the work as replacing overhead power infrastructure with underground cables and new streetlights. The change involves construction on public streets and connections to properties; the schedule and street-level disruption therefore depend on the relevant project zone and work stage.
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What affected property owners are charged
The City’s 2025/26 budget describes two components, charged through rates: a network charge and a separate connection fee. The network charge is the property’s share of project costs for bringing the network connection to the property boundary. The connection fee reflects work needed between the boundary and the meter box, based on Western Power’s assessment of the existing connection. The actual assessed amount is shown on the applicable rates notice.
Network charge by gross rental value
For residential and commercial properties, the City’s 2025/26 budget lists these network charges. Gross rental value (GRV) determines the tier:
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| Property GRV | Network charge |
|---|---|
| Up to $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $20,001–$30,000 | $3,600 |
| $30,001–$50,000 | $5,400 |
| Above $50,000 | $5,400 plus $0.20 for each dollar of GRV above $50,000 |
| “Other – Large” non-residential/non-commercial category | $16,200 |
The budget says properties with multiple units or dwellings on one title are treated on a per-unit basis as described in its charge provisions. Owners of multi-unit properties should check the budget details and their rates notice rather than assume the total is assessed as a single dwelling.
Connection fee and payment
The City’s 2025/26 budget lists a connection-fee range of $0 to $1,500. Western Power assesses the connection between the property boundary and meter box; a connection that is already partly or wholly underground may qualify for a discount. The charges are spread across four equal annual instalments and included in applicable rates notices. If a property is sold with an outstanding amount, the City says it is recovered at settlement.
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- 【Anti-Interference Design】 Equipped with an adjustable-power transmitter and enhanced interference resistance, this underground wire locator delivers stable signal tracing in complex environments. As the receiver approaches a cable breakpoint, the alert tone gradually weakens and disappears to help identify the fault location.
- 【Wide Applications】 Designed for versatile wire tracing, this underground cable locator helps locate sprinkler valves, pet fences, buried wires, invisible fences, wall cables, and fence energizers. Ideal for garden maintenance, pet fence repair, and electrical troubleshooting.
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- 【Flashlight & Low-Light Operation】 Built-in flashlight helps illuminate dark areas when locating underground wires, pet fences, and cables. The wire tracer provides better visibility and convenience for outdoor maintenance, cable troubleshooting, and low-light working conditions.
For the amount applicable to a particular property, use its rates notice or contact the City; the budget range is not an individual assessment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Project cost figures reported at council approval
PerthNow reported on 30 May 2025 that the contract was estimated at $10.5 million and the expected average cost was $4,930 per unit or dwelling. These were estimates reported at the time of council approval, not a final audited project cost or a guaranteed charge for each property. The City’s published charging structure varies by GRV and connection status.
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- Innovative filter technology blocks interference "buzz" that makes tracing difficult, sends loud tone up to 10 miles (16 kilometers) on most cables, easy to hear through drywall, wood, and other enclosures
- Kit includes: Pro3000F filtered probe with 60Hz frequency filter and Pro3000 tone generator, angled bed-of-nails clips for individual pairs, RJ-11 connector for use on telephone jacks and nylon case which attaches to a belt, replacement tip for probe, requires 9V battery not included
- SmartTone technology provides 5 distinct tones for exact pair identification so you can find cables faster on non-active networks
- Tone and trace wire on non-active networks, filtered/unfiltered mode button with LED (green = filtered, red = unfiltered), 3.5 millimeter headphone jack and volume dial, replaceable tip
- Loud probe speaker is audible in noisy locations, turns off automatically after 5 minutes to extend battery life
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
