A new financial year has begun, and for West Australians it means recently announced increases to fees and charges come into effect.

It is also bringing a host of other changes.

Let's take a look at what's changing and what might affect you, starting with those increased costs for householders.

The average WA household can expect to pay about $440 extra per annum.

Here's where some of those dollars will be going:

Electricity

Power bills will rise by $169 a year.

The steep increase comes from the State Government's decision to nearly double the daily fee to connect to the power grid.

It used to cost 48.6 cents, but from today it almost doubles to cost 94.9 cents a day.

Even if you tried cutting down on your electricity consumption you can't avoid this hike.

You won't pay it in one lump sum — it will be distributed over your bills for the year.

Water

Water, sewerage and drainage fees will increase by six per cent at an annual cost of around $100.

That is on top of an increase of 4.5 per cent the previous year.

Cars

It's going to cost about $30 extra per year to own and drive a car.

The vehicle licence charge goes up by around $20 and Motor Injury Insurance will cost an additional $10.

Seniors Card holders

If you are a WA Seniors Card holder, but don't also have a Commonwealth concession card, brace for cuts to rebates on your water, local government rates and underground electricity charge.

These will now be capped at $100.

Rebate Caps for Seniors

2016-17 2017-18 Local Government Rates $288.70 $100.00 Water Service Charges $375.46 $100.00 Underground electricity $288.70 $100.00

Rebate Caps for Pensioners

2016-17 2017-18 Local Government Rates $750.00 $750.00 Water Service Charges $600.00 $600.00 Underground electricity No cap No cap

Public sector shake-up

From today the number of WA government departments will be reduced from 41 to 25 under a major overhaul of the sector.

The McGowan Government announced it earlier this year, and said it would cull 40 per cent of existing departments to create new super departments.

These changes include the creation of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation that will home the old Department of State Development, Commerce and the WA Tourism Commission.

The new Department of Community Services will absorb the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Housing, Disability Services Commission, and Local Government and Communities.

And the Road Safety Commission will be incorporated into WA Police.

New family violence laws

The former Barnett Government's changes to family violence laws will also come into effect today.

The suite of changes will include the creation of a Family Violence Restraining Order which aims to help stop cyber stalking, and people publishing intimate images of another person.

Penalty rates fall

This one will hit employees in a number of sectors across the country.

If you work in the hospitality, retail, fast food or pharmacy sector your pay cheque will be lighter from this week because of the Fair Work Commission's ruling to reduce penalty rates.

Workers in fast food or hospitality will have Sunday penalty rates reduced by five per cent this year, and 10 per cent in 2018 and 2019, reducing the final rate down to 125 and 150 per cent respectively.

Retail and pharmacy sector workers will have their take-home Sunday pay cut by five per cent this year and a further 15 per cent every year until 2020.

Editor's note July 4, 2017: The 2016-17 rebate figures for seniors and pensioners have been changed. They were initially reported incorrectly.