We have approved the prices Westernport Water can charge from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
Westernport Water price review 2023
-
Guidance paper26 October 2021
-
Westernport Water price submission30 September 2022
-
Consultation on price submission closes1 December 2022
-
Draft decision20 December 2022
-
Consultation on draft decision closes10 March 2023
-
Final decision23 June 2023
-
New prices apply1 July 2023
Overview
We have completed our review of the maximum prices and service levels to apply for Westernport Water customers from 1 July 2023.
We conducted our assessment against a legal framework established by the Victorian Government and set out in the Water Industry Regulatory Order (PDF), and the commission’s PREMO pricing framework.
You can find out more on how we engaged on this review at Engage Victoria. You can also view our final decision media release.
View our final decision and price determination
Key facts from our final decision
Typical water and sewerage bills will rise from 1 July 2023
Typical annual residential owner occupier water bills for 2023-24 will be $1,317 (including inflation), a 7.3 per cent increase from $1,227 in 2022-23.
Tariffs
Tariff structures will generally remain the same, but with some increase in variable water charges to provide customers with more bill control.
Over 2024 to 2028, Westernport Water proposes to keep its water and sewerage prices constant (before inflation).
Six outcome commitments
Westernport Water worked with its customers to develop outcomes, with accompanying measures and targets to track its performance each year.
Westernport Water’s outcome commitments to its customers are:
- Provide me with high-quality drinking water
- Reduce your environmental impact and adapt to climate change
- Resolve sewer blockages quickly
- Keep water interruptions to a minimum
- Be there when I need you
- Keep my essential services affordable.
Read our fact sheet on the final decision
Consultation on our draft decision
We consulted on our draft decision between 20 December and 10 March 2023. All feedback received informed our decision making process.
- We received three public submissions.
- We held an online public forum on 16 February 2023 attended by 14 people, including members of the public, representatives from the water business and commission staff.
- Westernport Water provided its response to our draft decision.
Topics of discussion during the forum included:
- concerns around the impact of water extraction from the Bass River
- question on the timing of a response to the Sustainable Water Strategy
The recording of this forum can be accessed below.
The public submissions received are available in the resources tab on this page.
Find out more
Read about how we regulate the water sector or contact us for more information.
Resources
Our final decision and price determination
Submissions on Westernport Water draft decision
Westernport Water's price submission
Feedback on Westernport Water price submission
We consulted on Westernport Water's price submission until 1 December 2022 mostly via Engage Victoria. We received five submissions including two confidential submissions. Submissions included feedback on changes in variable charges, engagement and waterways management.
We consider all feedback in our draft decision on Westernport Water's proposals.
See our Submissions Policy for how we approach anonymous and confidential submissions.
Guidance
Our guidance to Westernport Water on preparing its price submission.
Interactive fact sheet
In June 2023 the Essential Services Commission released its final decision on Westernport Water’s price submission. The final decision completes our review of the maximum prices that Westernport Water may charge for its services for a five-year regulatory period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.