WA Premier, Dr Geoff Gallop, said the uniform tariff decision was a key election promise of his for regional WA and came into effect on January 15. The Premier said it reversed a decision by then Energy Minister and now Opposition Leader, Mr Colin Barnett, to implement differential electricity tariffs in 1998.

"The Government believes that differential electricity tariffs were a disincentive to investment in regional WA, and made a promise that when it got into government it would reverse the Liberals' decision," the Premier said.

"The Government aims to ensure large commercial power consumers throughout the State will pay around 16 cents per unit of electricity rather than 22c under the previous Government's scheme."

The new tariff benefits apply to off-grid power consumers using more than 300,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year.