Barwon Water bill freeze

Focusing on ‘more equitable pricing structure’

GEELONG region water bills will be frozen in 2018-19.

Barwon Water’s five-year pricing structure was formalised this week, revealing an efficiency focus that will see investments made in recycled water, renewable energy and capital works.

Managing director Tracey Slatter said the expected $26 million saving in operating costs over the next five years would help keep bills stable.

“Nationally, we are in the lowest 10 per cent for major water corporation bills and this next price period should see this continue,” she said.

Ms Slatter said the authority had focused on providing a more equitable pricing structure.

Barwon Water will not in- crease bills next year — except for inflation — before introducing small annual increases, resulting in an overall change of $13 by 2022-23.

Ms Slatter said the average homeowner would pay $1038 in that year — $163 less than a decade earlier.

Non-residential bills will remain stable in 2018-19, before annual reductions bring pric- ing to parity with residential customers by June 2023.

“In five years’ time all customers will pay the same price for the water they use, with greater incentives and support to save water,” Ms Slatter said.

The independent Essential Services Commission this week approved Barwon Water’s pricing structure.

It is one of four authorities that has kept prices steady for 2018-19.

Six authorities will introduce price cuts, while Gippsland and North East residents will see a small billing rise.

Commission chair Ron Ben-David said the vast majority of Victorians would benefit from flat or falling water prices.

“We dared the water businesses to think big and today we’re seeing the dividends for customers from that dare,” he said. “We challenged the water businesses … to find the best ways to deliver real service improvements while also saving customers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years.”

Barwon Water is also investing $15.4m in renewable energy projects, which will see 43 per cent of its power needs provided by green energy within five years.