3 July 2024

ACT Government to introduce individual water metering for each unit in new apartment buildings

| Oliver Jacques
Join the conversation
8
Man speaking to group

Chris Steel MLA said individual water meters are fairer and more efficient. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Does the idea of paying the exact same water charge as everyone else in an apartment complex, regardless of water use, seem unfair to you?

Change could soon be on its way.

The ACT Government has announced it will introduce individual water metering for each separate unit in new apartment buildings and townhouse developments.

“People living in mixed-use unit-titled developments in the ACT currently pay a fixed charge for water, which is divided between all unit owners regardless of how much water they use. Individual water metering means unit owners will only pay for the water they use,” Minister for Planning Chris Steel said.

“As our city continues to grow, and we focus on delivering more types of housing choice, it’s important that we modernise water metering in mixed-use developments, townhouses and duplexes.”

READ ALSO Merici College parents owed thousands question school after $17 million liquidation of ‘partner’ tour company

The announcement comes three months before the ACT election in October 2024.

The ACT Government is working with government-owned utility Icon Water and the Unit Titles Reform Project Consultative Group to progress this proposal for new unit developments.

New requirements will apply to development applications lodged from 1 January 2025 for Class B units (generally townhouse type developments), and from 1 July 2028 for Class A units (generally multi-storey developments). Proponents can opt in earlier to the new requirements if they choose.

“For existing unit developments, the owners corporation can determine different ways of calculating contribution levies, such as water billing. For example, in a mixed-use development with commercial and residential units, a commercial operator that uses a high volume of water may be charged proportionally more, if agreed by the owners corporation by special resolution,” Mr Steel said.

Icon Water - Learn to read your water meter

Individual water metering will make the system fairer and encourage people to conserve water. Photo: Supplied.

According to water meter installer Brad Barns, individual meters have many benefits.

“The installation of separate water meters helps tenants and consumers reduce their water consumption since they can monitor their daily water usage and change their habits accordingly, saving money on their bills. This has benefits not only for people but for the environment,” he says.

“Councils and water authorities can detect and catch a leakage in the system, lessening the chance of water wastage. Water authorities and the body corporate in a block of units can monitor usage and provide precise billing to each separate consumer.

“People who own holiday units in apartment blocks can also benefit. If the property has individual water meters for units where there are permanent tenants, they quite rightly feel ripped off if they’re paying the same for water usage as the others. With an individual meter, the holiday unit owner will only pay for their usage.”

READ ALSO ‘Something to do with my appearance’ – man arrested for trespassing at his own home

Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said individual water metering will make the system fairer and encourage people to conserve water.

“Water is a finite resource, and we know that the ACT is sometimes impacted by extended dry periods, which will only become more frequent and severe with climate change,” Minister Rattenbury said.

“Icon Water will be responsible for implementing the new metering system. Data will be collected from the meters by Icon Water to inform them to make decisions about water supply infrastructure, identify any leaks and support faster repairs.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits of the new metering system for apartment residents and the environment over the coming months and years,” Mr Rattenbury said.

Join the conversation

8
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Units are becoming an increasingly important revenue source for the ACT government, with increased rates (but lower costs to service them) and land tax. Now they’re seeking even more ways to fleece Canberra residents and pay for their exorbitant salaries, IT stuff ups and dodgy consultancies.

It will (of course) be all users who pay for the cost of these new meters and their installation, without them gaining any benefit at all.

ICON Water will love this – each of these meters will start with a quarterly fixed charge of nearly $200, with actual usage on top of that. With the rate of apartment building in Canberra, this will be a goldmine for ICON, with very little change to actual water usage.

Heywood Smith1:18 pm 10 Jul 24

Considering the governments shared ownership of ICON water, naturally they will support anything to bring in extra $ and rip off customers.

I’m still trying to work out how people think this will make Icon Water extra money.

A service fee for each meter vs the current 1 service fee for the whole block would be the obvious answer.

Well that might be relevant except for the fact that multi unit developments are already charged service fees based on the number of dwellings, not the number of meters…..

Capital Retro8:39 am 04 Jul 24

Maybe ICON can also check that existing individual water meters are connected to the correct user address. I know of one instance where water meters were “swapped” to benefit one high volume user on a dual occupancy block.

Actually, the mandatory home inspection certificate that a purchaser pays about $1500 for should include checking to see if utility meters are connected to the correct address.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.