Reduced bills in water submission

TheEssential Services Commission has granted GWMWater preliminary approval of its price submission 2023-28, detailing a commitment to lower customer bills during the next five years.

Further engagement will inform the final determination, due for release in June.

GWMWater is one of five Victorian water corporations proposing a price reduction for the 2023-28 period.

New pricing and services standards that will form part of the final determination will come into effect from July 1.

In 2022-23, the average residential water bill for drinking water and sewer services across 12 months was $1403. In 2023-24, GWMWater proposes the average bill will be $1292, increasing in 2025-26 to $1299 and 2027-28 to $1307.

This excludes consumer price index.

Managing director Mark Williams said the water corporation welcomed the draft decision and was pleased customer feedback had guided the submission.

“Our submission details plans to improve flow rates for residential and industrial customers and to continue to improve water quality across our service region while maintaining affordable prices,” he said.

“Feedback from our community panel was that affordability was a really important aspect of the submission and we think we’ve been able to strike that balance with what we’ve proposed.”

The ongoing engagement program also informed commitments to customers, which GWMWater will track its performance against, annually.

These outcomes were safe drinking water, clean non-drinking water for urban and rural customers, reliable and affordable services and a healthy and liveable region.

Mr Williams said he commended staff’s work in preparing the price submission.

“The process was led by Sally Marshall, executive manager of strategy planning and performance, who chaired a working group with key personnel from GWMWater,” he said.

The working group was involved in articulating the revenue GWMWater would require in the next five years to meet its service obligation.

The group also presented the information to a community panel and were guided by the feedback received.

Victorian water businesses are required to make a price submission to the Essential Services Commission every five years to outline proposed prices and key service outcomes for customers.

The commission will host an online public consultation on April 4 to receive further feedback. People wanting to provide feedback can visit bit. ly/gwmwater-price-review

CONTRIBUTIONS: From left, May Glover, Lois Reid, Jan Stevenson, Pauline Martin, Marion Seater and Jan Cameron received 20-year service badges at Horsham East Ladies Probus Club’s annual meeting.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER