ACTEW Water expects an increase in Canberra’s water charges starting next financial year, the ABC has reported. This will apparently be due to water restrictions, water consumption and new water security projects.
It seems as though we may have gotten a little carried away by conserving water to the point where ACTEW has to raise prices because of their lower revenue.
Managing director Mark Sullivan says the cooperation is proposing a hike in fixed water charges and a lower usage threshold before higher variable charges kick-in.
“We should expect that there will be a reasonable price increase for water in the early part of the next five year period,” he said.
“That reflects the capital program, and it will be dependent on what the (Independent Competition and Regulatory) Commission does with the unearned revenue figure, and some very other important consideration that they’ve got to put into this.”
ACTEW Water has also released a submission to the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission, which discusses the setting of water and sewerage service prices over the next five years.
Mr Sullivan said, “I encourage the community to not only review our submission, but take the opportunity to make their own submission if they have a view on how water and sewerage prices should be set, this is a one in five year opportunity to do so.
“As part of this review, the ICRC will be considering how ACTEW Water is performing in terms of prudently managing the operation and continued improvement of Canberra’s water and sewerage infrastructure – we look forward to the outcomes of this process.”
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