Dubbo City Council has warned of a "potentially very significant" impact on its budget if a proposed pricing model for street lights is adopted.
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The council's bill would rise by 96 per cent to almost $500,000 in two years' time, under the model for public lighting put forward by Essential Energy.
Yesterday the council revealed plans to put forward its case to the Australian Energy Regulator, which will scrutinise the proposal from the electricity distributor through a public review process before making a decision.
The proposal would not hit Dubbo alone - the council's neighbours would face increases of similar or greater percentages.
Together they will have their say to the regulator, council organisational services director Craig Giffin said.
"Dubbo City Council as a member of the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils (OROC) is having input into a joint regional submission to the Australian Energy Regulator in regards to the Essential Energy proposal," he said.
The council is working to detail the effect of a 96 per cent, or $245,000, increase.
"The financial impact of this proposal for Dubbo City Council is potentially very significant," Mr Giffin said.
"This matter is still under investigation by council staff and the impact on council's operational plan and budget will be considered as part of the formal submission to the Australian Energy Regulator."
Seven of the 12 OROC members face increases of more than 100 per cent.
Narromine Shire Council tops the list, and would pay an increase of 117 per cent under the Essential Energy proposal.
Wellington and Warrumbungle councils come next with increases of 113 per cent proposed.
An Essential Energy spokesman said the cost of public lighting services had been under-recovered in the past.
"The new model proposes more cost-reflective tariffs, which aim to ensure effective, efficient and compliant operations during the next regulatory period," he said.
"To assist councils in budget planning, increases covered under our transitional regulatory proposal, from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, will be in line with CPI.
"Essential Energy is then proposing a range of more substantial increases required to cover the full cost of the public lighting service from July 1, 2015."
Submissions should be sent to the regulator by August 1.
