The state’s independent pricing regulator has released draft guidance for Goulburn-Murray Water as the water business consults with customers on prices to apply from 1 July 2024.
The Essential Service Commission is seeking feedback on its draft guidance paper, which sets out what Goulburn-Murray Water needs to include in its price submission, due in September 2023. The draft paper also outlines how the commission will assess the price submission.
Goulburn-Murray Water is the state’s largest irrigation water service provider and covers the region from the Murray River in the north to the great dividing range in the south.
Their price submission will outline the prices they propose to apply from 1 July 2024, and set out the service levels and value customers can expect to receive.
Commission pricing director Marcus Crudden said this will be Goulburn-Murray Water’s first price review fully under the commission’s PREMO framework, which puts customers at the centre of water business price submissions.
“We will assess Goulburn-Murray Water’s proposals across its prices, services, planned expenditure and other areas,” he said.
“Our water pricing framework provides strong incentives for water businesses to deliver better value for customers, requiring them to submit pricing plans that demonstrate how they’ve considered the services customers want.”
Customers of Goulburn-Murray Water should contact the water business for information on how to get involved in its price submission engagement program.
The commission will also undertake further consultation after Goulburn-Murray Water has submitted its proposals before making its final price determination in June 2024.
Submissions on the draft guidance paper can be made via water@esc.vic.gov.au until 20 July 2022.
