Pricing Information

> A new smarter water pricing system

Our Water Our Future requires regional urban water authorities to design pricing structures that provide incentives to customers to reduce water use while reflecting the true cost of water delivery and environmental impacts. Coliban Water introduced the smarter water pricing system in the Coliban Water Supply system area on 1 July 2005.

New Tariff Schedule 2009/2010 effective 1 July 2009

Water and sewer service charges across the region will change from 1 July 2009. These charges are calculated on a daily basis and charged per quarterly billing period.

Download the Schedule of Fees and Charges > click here (PDF 206KB)

Frequently Asked Questions about the new 2009/2010 Tariff Schedule > Click here

To download a copy of the 2009/2010 Tariff newspaper advertisement > Click here

> What is a Stepped Tariff?

Stepped tariffs are based on a ‘user-pays’ system that encourages customers to save water. Stepped tariffs recognise the needto provide water for essential domestic use at an affordable price. For water use above a specified level of consumption, customers will pay a higher price.

Stepped tariffs are widely regarded as the fairest and most effective way to price water to encourage conservation.

> How will it work?

Each quarter Coliban Water will continue to take a reading of a customer’s water meter to determine the amount of water that has been used. The water usage component of the bill is determined by the number of kilolitres of water used. Instead of applying a flat rate to the water usage, a three-stepped pricing structure will be applied, based on water consumption. The allowance at each Step is calculated on a daily basis and will be charged on a quarterly basis.

The stepped tariff does not apply to Rural Licence customers and Non-Residential customers.

The maximum daily consumption in each step per property is:

Step 1 > 0 - 0.548 kL (0-548 litres)

Step 2 > 0.549 - 1.096 kL (549-1,096 litres)
Step 3 > 1.097 kL plus (1,097 litres plus)

Below are examples of how the rising stepped tariff can apply to your consumption.