What is outlined in the Draft Decision?
Overall the ESC have shown support for our pricing proposals, with the fundamentals of our tariff reform package fully supported.
The Draft Decision outlines that from 1 July 2013, our urban customers will be paying on average an additional 8.9% in their total water and sewer bills in the first year of the plan and a further 2.4% each year up to 2018 (excluding inflation).
This equates to an average annual price increase of 5% per annum.
The ESC have prepared a fact sheet outlining the price increases for household bills.
Our proposal to remove stepped tariffs for water usage and introduce a single usage charge has been supported. As has our proposal to 'harmonise' prices in our two pricing districts (Northern and Central) over a seven year period.
We are working through the detail of the Draft Decision and will continue to examine content against the principles used in preparing our proposal of fairness, keeping it simple and avoiding bill shock in developing our response to the ESC's decision.
All feedback must be received by the ESC by 2 May 2013.
> Next steps in the timeline
| 26 March 2013 |
ESC releases Draft Decision |
| March to May 2013 |
ESC consultation on their Draft Decision |
18 April 2013
12.30pm |
ESC Community Forum
La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre
121 View Street, Bendigo
|
19 April 2013
10.00am |
ESC Community Forum
Port of Echuca Motel,
465 High Street Echuca |
| 2 May 2013 |
All feedback to the ESC on the Draft Decision must be received. |
| June 2013 |
ESC releases Final Determination on Water Plan |
| 1 July 2013 |
Water Plan 2013-18 including new pricing starts |
Following the release of the Draft Decision the ESC are seeking feedback before making their final determination in June 2013.
Public forums will be held by the ESC in Bendigo and Echuca during April. Details for these sessions are listed above. Information on how you can provide feedback is available on the ESC website or provide via email at water@esc.vic.gov.au
> Thank you for your input into the draft plan
We asked our residential customers and most of our non-residential customers by mail survey in late 2011 for input into shaping our next Water Plan. What you told us helped in the preparation of our draft Water Plan.
Two key things you told us were that you wanted fairness and simplicity in our prices and pricing structure.
During June and July 2012 we direct mailed all our customers inviting you to provide feedback on our proposal and whether it was fair for all our customers, simple to understand and secures the financial sustainability of our business.
Approximately 220 people attended 19 information sessions.
We received more than 1300 feedback forms, telephone calls, e-mails and letters.
Thank-you to all who gave their time to help us understand customer opinion.
Our proposal, submitted in 2012, can be viewed with attachments as PDFs on the ESC website.
See our revised (November 2012) Water Plan 2013-2018 Pricing Submission brochure (PDF 654KB).
|
> Residential Pricing Estimator
Our Residential Pricing Estimator gives urban residential customers a rough idea of what their bills may cost subject to the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) review of our Water Plan pricing submission.
The pricing estimator will not be updated until the final determination on prices is made by the ESC in June 2013.
> What is the Water Plan?
Every five years we develop a Water Plan that includes pricing and services.
Our Water Plan explains the proposed prices and pricing structure for our services including:
> operational costs to run the business, such as pumping water, treating water and sewage, recycling and maintaining pipes
> our infrastructure investment in the region to deliver water and wastewater services
> service levels we will provide to you.
|
