A remote Northern Territory primary school has been slugged with an unexpected $300,000 electricity bill due to a long-term billing error by power provider and mining giant Rio Tinto.The company has blamed an invoicing error for the school's unexpected billNhulunbuy Primary School, on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land, is now in the process of paying back the hefty bill, which Rio Tinto said was the fault of an "electricity invoicing discrepancy".
"Over a period of time, the power corporation responsible for the provision of electricity in Nhulunbuy did not charge the correct amount for electricity usage at Nhulunbuy Primary School," she said.Sources in the Nhulunbuy Primary School community said the school council had been worried about the impact the bill could have on the school's staffing and infrastructure budgets.However, the Minister's spokeswoman said efforts had since been made to stem any budget fallout.
"[It's] ensuring there is no impact to the operation of the school, including teacher numbers, with the priority remaining on uninterrupted quality teaching and learning for its students." The Nhulunbuy Primary source said the school council had late last year planned to ask for a waiver to the bill, but both the department and Rio denied any knowledge of this request going ahead.
Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)
Did the school think that the Power was free? Why are they different to any other school?
PhronesiaC After blowing up sacred sites & now demanding payment of power Bill, Rio Tinto could be mistaken as a terrorist organisation, similar to the ISIS M.O.
Could go off the grid for less than that.
Absolutely disgusting, Rio Tinto! This is a SCHOOL, you should have just accepted the $300k was gone and counted your blessings that you don’t get taxed properly!
A check of remote schools, especially those in mining towns, would show these costs are widespread.
Rio Tinto should lt the school of the debt just like the federal gov let them not pay tax