IPART Review of metropolitan water utilities price structures

IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales) is conducting a review of price structures for metropolitan water utilities.

The water utilities recover their costs through both service (fixed) charges, and charges that vary with usage.

They are investigating:

• how detached houses, flats, units and townhouses are charged for water and sewerage services
• how the various types of non-residential properties are charged for water and sewerage services
• whether non-residential sewerage usage and sewerage service charges need to be rebalanced, and
• whether the current differences between the charging arrangements of the four water utilities are justified

Of particular interest to OCN members is the first point above.

A discussion paper  that sets out the current price structures, the inequities that arise from them, and some of the options available to resolve these issues can be viewed here

Submissions that have already been made to IPART can be viewed here

OCN Member Ingrid Jackson drafted OCN's submission to the review, and has argued our case to the tribunal on 29th August 2011. A full transcript of that roundtable can be seen here.