Regulator to consult on regional water price proposals

Victoria’s economic regulator will hold a series of public meetings throughout the state to gauge public opinion on the water prices proposed by regional and rural water businesses for the 2013-18 period.

The Essential Services Commission is seeking public comment on the proposed five-year water prices and expenditure of the 15 water businesses that supply urban and rural water outside Melbourne.

During November and December, it will hold a series of public forums in major regional cities and towns to hear directly from domestic consumers, industry and farmers.

The Commission will then formally assess the water businesses’ five-year pricing and service proposals (water plans), before delivering a draft decision in March.

After a second period of public consultation, the Commission will hand down a final decision that will set Victorian water prices for a five-year* period from 1 July 2013.

ESC Chief Executive Officer David Heeps said the initial public consultation period gave consumers the opportunity to question water businesses on the scale of their water price and service proposals.

“We find that water consumers in regional Victoria like to know where their money is being spent and whether they are getting value for money,” he said.

“The Essential Services Commission will carefully assess the businesses’ water plans to ensure consumers are paying no more for water and sewerage services than they should be paying.”

The Commission’s first public forum will be held at Wodonga on Monday 12 November, and the final forum in regional Victoria will be held in Traralgon on Thursday 6 December.

Separate forums will be held in Melbourne to consider the water price proposals of the metropolitan water businesses.