Water bills may raise slightly for tenants and decrease for some Greater Western Water users if an Essential Services Commission (ESC) draft decision on water services pricing is adopted.
The Essential Services Commission has released its draft decision on GWW’s proposed prices for water services for the four-year period starting on July 1.
This is GWW’s first price review, following the merger of the former City West Water and Western Water businesses in 2021.
GWW’s service area includes the Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Wyndham, Brimbank, Whittlesea, Hume, Melton, Macedon Ranges and Moorabool council areas.
The ESC said GWW’s proposal will lead to a decrease in a typical annual customer bill for most customers, however, a data provided by the ESC shows a slight rise in prices for renters in the western region.
The proposal projects that by the 2027-28 financial year, typical water and sewerage bills for houses in GWW’s western region with an average 150 kiloletre per annum consumption would raise from $348 to $374 for renters, while dropping from $1099 to $1052 for owner-occupiers.
For houses in GWW’s central region, renter’s bills would reduce by $20, and homeowners by $2, in the same period. The central region includes Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Brimbank, Whittlesea and the Broadmeadows area.
Commission pricing executive director Marcus Crudden said GWW will deliver several key initiatives to support customer value.
“Among its key initiatives, Greater Western Water will increase investment in assets to maintain service quality and reliability, responding to challenges from climate change and population growth, he said.
“Given ongoing cost of living pressures it is pleasing to see the business commit to increased financial support those experiencing hardship.
The draft decision is open for feedback until May 7 and the commission will hold a public forum on May 2.
Details: engage.vic.gov.au/ESC-water-price-review-2024.
