Sewerage options examined

olfella said :

Yep – especially when they put their case forward and we (the poor bastard paying our taxes) have no way of putting a case that would disway any ‘independent regulator’.
An example would be ‘ACTEW Managing Director Mark Sullivan said “the ability to effectively plan, operate, and maintain sewerage assets in a manner that meets community expectations, and meets legislative and regulatory requirements, is becoming increasingly challenging as a result of climate change and variability, population increases and other key factors”.’

Now how does any joe blo have any hope of fronting this ‘independent regulator’ putting a case together arguing against what is put forward?? especially when they have no initials after their name?

It is all a game and all the bases are loaded…

Did you miss the bit on the ICRC website where people are encouraged to make submissions to any of their investigations, issues and decisions?
Anyone can put a case forward to sway the Regulator.
If however you are saying that any Joe Blow should have his “thoughts” taken with the same weight as research by technical experts, well i’m sorry but that’s just not the way our entire society works.

chewy14 said :

Ah well, i did say it could possibly give you a clue. Apparently not.
So you think prices being set and audited at 5 yearly intervals by an independent regulator confirms your thoughts that Actew just raises prices whenever they want for their own pet projects?
Yep that makes sense.

Yep – especially when they put their case forward and we (the poor bastard paying our taxes) have no way of putting a case that would disway any ‘independent regulator’.
An example would be ‘ACTEW Managing Director Mark Sullivan said “the ability to effectively plan, operate, and maintain sewerage assets in a manner that meets community expectations, and meets legislative and regulatory requirements, is becoming increasingly challenging as a result of climate change and variability, population increases and other key factors”.’

Now how does any joe blo have any hope of fronting this ‘independent regulator’ putting a case together arguing against what is put forward?? especially when they have no initials after their name?

It is all a game and all the bases are loaded…

olfella said :

chewy14 said :

olfella said :

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/
This webisite could possibly (note possibly) give you a clue as to how utility prices are set in the ACT.
I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just made up.

Well Chewy, I had a look at your link and it just confirms what I am saying. All of those ‘reports’ wer the basis for price rises in the past. What they are doing now is buttering (thanks Chop71) us up for more!!

Ah well, i did say it could possibly give you a clue. Apparently not.
So you think prices being set and audited at 5 yearly intervals by an independent regulator confirms your thoughts that Actew just raises prices whenever they want for their own pet projects?
Yep that makes sense.

chewy14 said :

olfella said :

Chaz said :

couldn’t we focus on bringing costs down, instead of buying new buildings or getting pointless artworks in the lobby?

Why would they care??? it ain’t their money! – and if they need more for pet projects, then they just introduce a ‘levy’ or an ‘abstraction’.

http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/
This webisite could possibly (note possibly) give you a clue as to how utility prices are set in the ACT.
I’ll give you a hint – it’s not just made up.

Well Chewy, I had a look at your link and it just confirms what I am saying. All of those ‘reports’ wer the basis for price rises in the past. What they are doing now is buttering (thanks Chop71) us up for more!!

facet said :

I remember a report saying that sewage is a valuable resource.
Suggest it might be time for a “No More Sewage by 2013” policy.
Either that or a feed in tariff.

I guess that means I have to start shitting at home instead of work…
The ad jingle could be “Makin’ money just sittin’ on the dunny”.

chewy14 said :

Where does it talk about the expansion of the ACT sewerage system? And expansion for what, new suburbs?

Er, the entire paper is about expansion of the system. but if you want specifics, try the first paragraph.

I remember a report saying that sewage is a valuable resource.
Suggest it might be time for a “No More Sewage by 2013” policy.
Either that or a feed in tariff.

EvanJames said :

They keep telling us that population growth results in everything being cheaper. yet the electricity infrastructure expansion in NSW is the reason for skyrocketing power prices, and now the expansion of the ACT sewarage system looks like meaning significant price rises. I wonder when all this new cheapness will start to happen?

Where does it talk about the expansion of the ACT sewerage system? And expansion for what, new suburbs?

They keep telling us that population growth results in everything being cheaper. yet the electricity infrastructure expansion in NSW is the reason for skyrocketing power prices, and now the expansion of the ACT sewarage system looks like meaning significant price rises. I wonder when all this new cheapness will start to happen?

Chop71 said :

Yup, I am now all buttered up for a price rise….. thanks for the warning

Price rises already determined. CPI + 4.76% a year up to 2012/13