This means typical annual water and sewerage bills for residential owner occupier customers will increase 3.7 per cent – from $1,363 to $1,414 – from 1 July 2023.
For the remaining four years to 2028, typical annual water and sewerage bills for residential customers will decrease by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, before inflation.
The final decision follows a detailed proposal by Gippsland Water which was carefully scrutinised by the commission, and consultation with customers and the community on a draft decision released in March.
The commission’s director of pricing Marcus Crudden says Gippsland Water has initiatives in place to support customers experiencing vulnerability.
“We encourage customers to contact Gippsland Water if they are experiencing difficulty paying bills, to discuss what assistance or arrangements can be made,” Mr Crudden said.
In Victoria, water businesses must provide payment assistance to households and small businesses. Customers who are experiencing difficulty with their water bills may be eligible for payment plans or assistance with applications for utility relief grants and other concessions.
In approving the plan, the commission considered Gippsland Water’s price submission, and its responses to queries and the draft decision; consultants’ reports; written submissions from interested parties; and the views of participants in the public forum held on 6 April.
Gippsland Water has committed to a number of key outcomes over the five-year pricing period, reflecting customer priorities: be affordable and fair; do its job well; be easy to deal with; be involved in the community; be environmentally responsible; and plan for the future.
It will also build on its extensive engagement with its customers and community, including with Traditional Owners, and further uplift its education and awareness campaigns in relation to water conservation, sustainability, wellbeing and customer support.
Gippsland Water will invest $268 million in capital works to increase the resilience of its infrastructure to deal with population growth, and to increase water security.
The Essential Services Commission thanks customers and stakeholders for their submissions and participation in the price review process, including with Gippsland Water as it prepared its proposal.
