We have approved the prices Central Highlands Water can charge from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
Central Highlands Water price review 2023
- Guidance paper26 October 2021
- Central Highlands Water price submission30 September 2022
- Consultation closes1 December 2022
- Draft decision12 April 2023
- Consultation closes12 May 2023
- Final decision23 June 2023
- New prices apply1 July 2023
Overview
We have completed our review of the maximum prices to apply for Central Highlands 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
Typical water and sewerage bills will rise from 1 July 2023
Typical annual residential owner occupier water and sewerage bills for 2023-24 will be $1,298 (including inflation), a 5.4 per cent increase from $1,231 in 2022-23.
Tariffs
Central Highlands Water’s tariff structures for water and sewerage charges will remain unchanged for the period between 2023–28.
Four outcome commitments
Central Highlands Water worked with its customers to develop outcomes, with accompanying measures and targets to track its performance each year.
Central Highlands Water’s outcome commitments to its customers are:
- Customer care
- Equity
- Sustainability
- Reliable water and wastewater services.
Read our fact sheet on the final decision
Consultation on our draft decision
We consulted on our draft decision between 12 April and 12 May 2023. All feedback received informed our decision making process.
- We received five public submissions.
- We held an online public forum on 28 April 2023 attended by 27 people, including members of the public, representatives from the water business and commission staff.
- Central Highlands Water provided its response to our draft decision.
A topic of discussion during the forum included the rationale for not accepting 1.5 million of expenditure related to future growth in Ballarat.
The recording of this forum can be accessed below.
The public submissions received are available in the resources tab of 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 our draft decision
Central Highlands Water's price submission
Feedback on Central Highlands Water price submission
We consulted on Central Highlands Water's price submission until 1 December 2022 mostly via Engage Victoria. We received 13 submissions including 1 confidential submission.
Themes from submissions included feedback on Central Highlands Water's proposed outcomes, proposed prices, its engagement, waterways management, as well as Central Highlands Water's approach to development and developer charges.
We consider all feedback in our draft decision on Central Highlands Water's proposals. See our Submissions Policy for how we approach anonymous and confidential submissions.
Guidance
Our guidance to Central Highlands Water on preparing its price submission.
Interactive fact sheet
In June 2023 the Essential Services Commission released its final decision on Central Highlands Water’s price submission. The final decision completes our review of the maximum prices that Barwon Water may charge for its services for a five-year regulatory period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.