26 February 2013

Water prices coming down

| johnboy
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The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has proposed a reduction in water prices in the wake of its draft report on regulated water and sewerage services:

If the prices proposed in this review were to come into effect, volumetric water prices would drop by about 17 per cent and sewerage services prices by about 24 per cent. The bill of the typical residential water customer would drop 14 per cent and that of the typical residential user of sewerage services by 24 per cent.

The first thing that must be said about these potential price outcomes are that they depend in part on some novel features of the proposed price direction on which the Commission especially welcomes community comment. It is possible, therefore, that the Commission could make adjustments that would somewhat reduce the extent of the proposed price reductions. Because this draft report proposes substantial changes to the way prices are determined, it would be wise to treat its conclusions with more than usual caution. All that said, it is very unlikely that the final report will not see a significant reduction in the prices of water and sewerage services

The report also recommends creating a new Territory Owned Corporation to handle water and sewerage.

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Robertson said :

Can anybody explain the benefits to the Ratepayer of water and sewerage being provided by a “Corporation”?

Or does it benefit somebody else?

And as a government-run monopoly that doesn’t actually operate in a free market, why is its CEO remunerated as if he were running a private company?

Is the chief purpose behind running it as a corporation to enable them to pay exhorbitant salaries to friends-of-the-ALP without having to publish what those salaries are?

The do actually publish what the exhorbitant salaries are in the annual report.
http://www.actew.com.au/~/media/Files/ACTEW/Annual%20Reports/Annual%20Report%202012_Corporate.ashx#page=19. CEO is the third line down.

HiddenDragon10:19 am 28 Feb 13

Whitepointer said :

After living in various states of Australia & many countries over many years, I am more than happy to pay the current prices or more. We have the best water quality in the world hands down & after waiting 2 1/2 days for a overflowing sewer manhole to be cleared in the backyard of our Melbourne home. Seriously, I really don’t think people have any idea of just how good we have it in Canberra.

Receiving the water/sewerage bill at the same time as the electricity bill can certainly be a sobering experience, but for the sake of a reduction in the water bill which might equate to one coffee a week, I would not like to see a cut in the capacity to respond to emergencies – whether they affect one, or many homes. I have found the responses to be excellent – at times almost amazingly good, and I would be very pleased to see that capacity retained. As I have said in the past, when making similar comments, I have absolutely no personal or professional connection with ACTEWAGL – I am just, in this respect, a happy customer.

Also, while I haven’t looked in to the details of how much money the ACT Government gets from ACTEWAGL on an annual basis, I assume, as has been alluded to elsewhere, that a reduction in ACTEWAGL revenue might simply mean even larger increases in rates, taxes and other charges.

Whitepointer8:19 am 28 Feb 13

After living in various states of Australia & many countries over many years, I am more than happy to pay the current prices or more. We have the best water quality in the world hands down & after waiting 2 1/2 days for a overflowing sewer manhole to be cleared in the backyard of our Melbourne home. Seriously, I really don’t think people have any idea of just how good we have it in Canberra.

DrKoresh said :

Robertson said :

Chop71 said :

Katy on the radio this morning saying “Actew is a business that returns a profit to Canberra”.

No should read what the regulator is trying to tell you…..

Actew are a supplier of Electricity, water and sewerage at a fair and reasonable cost.

Thank You to the regulator for growing some balls.

If it’s “a business”, how do I take my business elsewhere?

I can’t?

Not a business – a monopoly.

You should start a competing business!

It’s a franchise.

Robertson said :

Chop71 said :

Katy on the radio this morning saying “Actew is a business that returns a profit to Canberra”.

No should read what the regulator is trying to tell you…..

Actew are a supplier of Electricity, water and sewerage at a fair and reasonable cost.

Thank You to the regulator for growing some balls.

If it’s “a business”, how do I take my business elsewhere?

I can’t?

Not a business – a monopoly.

You should start a competing business!

Chop71 said :

Katy on the radio this morning saying “Actew is a business that returns a profit to Canberra”.

No should read what the regulator is trying to tell you…..

Actew are a supplier of Electricity, water and sewerage at a fair and reasonable cost.

Thank You to the regulator for growing some balls.

If it’s “a business”, how do I take my business elsewhere?

I can’t?

Not a business – a monopoly.

Katy on the radio this morning saying “Actew is a business that returns a profit to Canberra”.

No should read what the regulator is trying to tell you…..

Actew are a supplier of Electricity, water and sewerage at a fair and reasonable cost.

Thank You to the regulator for growing some balls.

Keijidosha said :

“The report also recommends creating a new Territory Owned Corporation to handle water and sewerage.

Is there any difference between the proposed Territory-Owned Corporation and the existing Government owned corporation? The shadow games being played with water and sewerage infrastructure operations in the ACT is baffling.

Can anybody explain the benefits to the Ratepayer of water and sewerage being provided by a “Corporation”?

Or does it benefit somebody else?

And as a government-run monopoly that doesn’t actually operate in a free market, why is its CEO remunerated as if he were running a private company?

Is the chief purpose behind running it as a corporation to enable them to pay exhorbitant salaries to friends-of-the-ALP without having to publish what those salaries are?

Doubt it based on the most recent increases. We’ll have a Cotter Dam additional fee added shortly to cover the cost blow-outs for that construction.

funbutalsoserious9:45 pm 26 Feb 13

Fingers crossed for the price drops to actually happen, they will find some way to keep their prices and throw an increase or 2 in there……..

switch said :

I’m sure all the other mysterious charges on the water bill would creep up to compensate. Just like they did when we were all good boys and girls and used less water during the restrictions.

You can hardly blame people for being cynical.

“The report also recommends creating a new Territory Owned Corporation to handle water and sewerage.

Is there any difference between the proposed Territory-Owned Corporation and the existing Government owned corporation? The shadow games being played with water and sewerage infrastructure operations in the ACT is baffling.

I’m sure all the other mysterious charges on the water bill would creep up to compensate. Just like they did when we were all good boys and girls and used less water during the restrictions.

Water prices to drop? That can’t be right. I suspect the final wording will be that the prices will increase by 17% less than first budgeted.

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