Since 2018-19, average household water bills started dropping and this recent report has confirmed that they’re continuing to do so across the state.
The average water and sewerage bill for a typical home owner in regional Victoria went down by $3 to $1115.
Goulburn Valley Water, which covers the City of Greater Shepparton area, was found to provide the lowest price across Victoria, sitting at $888 for the typical household water and sewerage bill.
The commission’s executive director of pricing Marcus Crudden said the lowering of these bill prices should come as a relief for people after the past two years.
“While bills have generally been flat or falling in recent years, water businesses continue to maintain or enhance their support for customers, particularly for households and small businesses struggling to pay their bills because of pandemic impacts,” he said.
Additionally, water consumption per household has declined in regional Victoria in the past year where usage fell two per cent compared with water usage in metropolitan Melbourne, which stayed the same as the previous year.
However, water consumption is higher in Victoria’s north and north-west with customers of GV Water sitting at 224 kilolitres on average, followed by GWMWater at 221 kilolitres and Lower Murray Water being the highest at 447 kilolitres.
Price submissions for Victorian Water businesses are coming up in September this year which highlight how businesses plan to provide their customers with the best value for money when it comes to water bills.
These price reviews will be submitted to the Essential Services Commission at the end of September.
Mr Crudden is encouraging customers to engage with their water provider if they want a say on their bills before the price reviews are submitted.
“Now is the time for customers to get in touch with their business if they want to have their say on future prices and services,” he said.
For more information visit the Essential Services Commission website for its Water Price Review 2023.
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