The commission’s head of water pricing Marcus Crudden says depending on water usage, city dwellers will pay a little more, while regional households will pay less.
“Your average water bill goes up or down every year based on a number of factors including how much you use, the cost of inflation and how much your water business spends on maintaining infrastructure and services,” he said.
Prices for regional customers will fall for the second year in a row following changes to the state’s pricing approach last year.
The biggest regional winners, with savings of around $25, include customers of Coliban Water (- $24), Goulburn Valley Water (- $25) and Central Highlands Water customers (- $27).
Mr Crudden says city prices will increase slightly after some large reductions last year.
“Overall, the full impact of the desalination order will be offset by a reduction in other factors including the low cost of inflation and falling borrowing costs,” he said.
Yarra Valley Water customers will, on average, enjoy a $9 drop in annual bills with the business returning $3 million for not meeting performance targets.
The commission has also released its quarterly customer perception survey showing Victorians rated their water businesses 5.8 out of 10 for ‘value for money’. The highest ranked business across all measures was East Gippsland Water.
All estimates are based on average consumption rates of 150 kilolitres per year for metropolitan customers while regional estimates are based on average consumption levels for each water business. All estimates are in $2019-20 terms.
Indicative actual household bills
Metro water - residential (owner occupier)
Water business
2018-19 Annual bill ($ 2019-20)
2019-20 Annual bill ($ 2019-20)
Change
City West Water
$967
$984
$17
South East Water
$976
$989
$13
Yarra Valley Water
$1,073
$1,064
-$9
Average bill change metro
(plus) +$7
Comparing bills in 2019-20 dollars = including inflation
Based on average consumption of 150kL p.a
Regional water – residential (owner occupier)
Water business
Average consumption
(kL p.a.)
2018-19 Annual bill
($ 2019-20)
2019-20 Annual bill
($ 2019-20)
Change
Barwon Water (Geelong)
160
$1,039
$1,032
-$7
Central Highlands Water (Ballarat)
150
$1,260
$1,233
-$27
Coliban Water (Bendigo)
188
$1,357
$1,333
-$24
East Gippsland Water (Bairnsdale)
146
$1,200
$1,192
-$8
Goulburn Valley Water (Shepparton)
260
$931
$906
-$25
Gippsland Water (Traralgon)
168
$1,352
$1,338
-$14
GWM Water (Horsham)
245
$1,405
$1,389
-$16
Lower Murray Water (Mildura)
477
$985
$976
-$9
North East Water (Wodonga)
190
$886
$882
-$4
South Gippsland Water (Foster)
118
$1,009
$998
-$11
Wannon Water (Warrnambool)
144
$1,126
$1,106
-$20
Western Water (Sunbury)
180
$1,029
$1,020
-$9
Westernport Water (Phillip Island)
80
$1,167
$1,157
-$10
Average bill change urban
(minus)
-$15
(Based on average consumption rates for each water business.)
