Under the approved price plan, more than 86 per cent of Southern Rural Water’s customers will see price increases capped at inflation:
Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District customers will see prices rise by 7 per cent in 2023-24
Groundwater and Rivers customers will see prices rise by 7 per cent in 2023-24;
Macalister Irrigation District customers will see prices rise by 8.6 per cent in 2023-24
Werribee Irrigation District customers will see prices rise by 8.1 per cent in 2023-24;
Latrobe bulk entitlement holders will see price rise by 8.6 per cent by 2023-24; and
Werribee and Maribyrnong bulk entitlement holders will see prices rise by 9.1 per cent in 2023-24.
The final decision follows a detailed proposal by Southern Rural Water which was carefully scrutinised by the commission, and consultation with customers and the community on a draft decision released in April.
In approving the plan, the commission considered Southern Rural 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 1 May.
The commission acknowledges the community’s strong interest in the work of Southern Rural Water. Themes raised during the forum included climate change, environmental water flows, and concerns about the quality of Southern Rural Water’s engagement with the community and customers.
“We encourage Southern Rural Water to work with local environmental groups and others in the community with strong interest and expertise in these areas, to further address these concerns,” the commission’s director of pricing, Marcus Crudden, said.
Southern Rural Water has committed to a number of key outcomes over the five-year pricing period, reflecting customer priorities: reliable water supply; sustainable water; great service; community value; and fair and reasonable prices.
“Southern Rural Water will continue to modernise assets in the Macalister and Werribee irrigation districts, to further support the reliability of its services and reduce water losses,” the commission’s director of pricing, Marcus Crudden, said.
Southern Rural Water will invest $125 million in capital works to improve critical assets and deliver compliance obligations.
The Essential Services Commission thanks customers and stakeholders for their submissions and participation in the price review process, including with Southern Rural Water as it prepared its proposal.
