The investment in poles and wires was when the system was more centralized and the system in places was ancient with a more decentralized system and intermittent power inputs poles and wires investment is being increased to cope.
Interesting the poles and wires costs are different for each company even if they have different named entities,then the discounts and peak and off peak rates and first part peak rates and first part off peak rates,its all just to confuse you.
Energy Australia service charge $1.41
Red Energy $1.15
Lumo $1.20
