Hi I have this other newspaper article and i have to summarise it. I have summarised it but i need to make it longer and there is a separate question where I have to state why it has become an issue using the article...please help:
Dark Age May Envelope WA Streets
Published on Mon, 30/05/2011, 10:14:04
(No Author Stated)
The State Government’s 29.8 per cent increase in the electricity tariff included in the recent State Budget has caused uproar among local governments.
WA Local Government Association President, Mayor Troy Pickard said this increase was “totally unexpected” and places a “massive strain” on local government finances.
Mr. Pickard said local governments’ decision to request electricity utilities to switch off street lighting or at least scale it back in their areas is their only option.
“Switching off street lights is a last resort as there are good reasons in regard to community safety and amenity that street lighting is provided by local governments,” Mr. Pickard said.
One of WA’s largest local government, the City of Stirling, has estimated its unexpected increased cost to be $1.1 million or about $13 per person.
According to Mr. Pickard, the “lack of drive” by the electricity utilities to accommodate the local government sector’s desire for more efficient lighting systems has exacerbated the crisis.
Mr. Pickard said it has taken a decade getting electricity utilities to seriously support local government moves to more efficient street lighting, but “there is still much to be done”.
“Certainly this 30 per cent increase would still have been unexpected by the sector but its comparative impact on overall expenditure would have been less if more efficient systems were already in place,” Mr. Pickard said.
osummarise the issue.
Hikes in electricity charges threaten to switch off street lights in Western Australia.
-Explain why it has become an issue.
???
Go back through and pick out more details. Be sure to answer the 5 W's -- who? what? when? where? why? how?
It's an issue because the governments can't afford such a big increase. Their only option is to turn out street lights which might foster an increase in crime.
thanks sooooooooooo much!!!
You're very welcome. :-)
To explain why the issue of hikes in electricity charges threatening to switch off street lights in Western Australia has become an issue, we can look at the context provided in the article.
Firstly, the State Government's 29.8% increase in the electricity tariff included in the recent State Budget has caused uproar among local governments. This increase was considered "totally unexpected" and has placed a "massive strain" on local government finances, as stated by WA Local Government Association President, Mayor Troy Pickard.
As a result, local governments have been compelled to take action to mitigate the financial burden caused by these increased electricity charges. One of their options has been to request electricity utilities to either switch off street lighting or scale it back in their areas. However, this decision is considered a "last resort" as there are valid concerns about community safety and amenity being compromised by the absence or reduction of street lighting.
Furthermore, the City of Stirling, one of Western Australia's largest local governments, estimated its unexpected increased cost to be $1.1 million, which translates to approximately $13 per person. This demonstrates the significant financial impact these electricity charge hikes are having on local governments.
Another factor contributing to the issue is the perceived "lack of drive" from electricity utilities to accommodate local government's desire for more efficient lighting systems. According to Mr. Pickard, it has taken a decade to get electricity utilities to support local government moves towards more efficient street lighting, but there is still much work to be done in this regard.
Overall, the issue of hikes in electricity charges threatening to switch off street lights in Western Australia has become an issue due to the unexpected financial strain it places on local governments, the potential compromise to community safety and amenity, as well as the perceived lack of progress towards more efficient lighting systems.