WA’s largest electricity supplier posted a loss of more than half a billion dollars last financial year — but the Cook Government claims households will not be forced to wear the costs.

In its latest annual report tabled in State Parliament on Thursday, Synergy recorded a $778.5 million loss, a dramatic deterioration for the electricity and gas retailer, which recorded a profit of almost $600M in the year prior.

The report also revealed 31,222 of its customers experienced hardship last financial year, despite the Government forking out millions in subsidies to keep prices down.

Synergy chief executive Kurt Baker blamed a range of factors for the “deteriorated” finances, including wiping the value of its coal-fired assets.

“This result includes a one-off impairment to the book value of

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