TasWater increases prices for new financial year coming and it might not stop there

TasWater will increase prices for a fourth consecutive year, and they’re warning it could be a higher hike in the future.

Price hike for TasWater customers coming

TasWater will hike its prices by 3.5 per cent in the 2025-26 financial year and has warned customers future increases are “likely to be higher”.

It comes after the utility froze prices at zero per cent for two years amid the Covid pandemic.

This will be the fourth consecutive year in which water and sewerage prices have risen by 3.5 per cent and will result in a bill increase of 13.04 cents a day for the average residential customer.

TasWater general manager customer and community, Matt Balfe, said the organisation wanted to keep bills affordable while it faced the need to upgrade its water and sewerage infrastructure.

TasWater general manager of customer and community Matt Balfe. Picture: Rob Inglis

TasWater’s current price and service plan will continue until June 30, 2026, after which a new plan will come into effect.

“With operational costs rising and infrastructure continuing to age, future price increases are likely to be higher,” Mr Balfe said.

“That’s why it’s so important to make sure our next plan reflects the right balance between affordability and the level of service people expect. We need to invest now to secure Tasmania’s water future [and] avoid passing burden onto future generations.”

TasWater will make a submission to the state’s economic regulator regarding the next price and service plan by the end of the financial year.

Mr Balfe said the organisation managed a complex and ageing network of infrastructure which accounted for a whopping 38 per cent of the nation’s water and sewerage treatment plants while only servicing 2 per cent of Australia’s population.

“We’ve got some big challenges ahead to ensure the security of safe, reliable water for generations to come,” he said.

Originally published as TasWater increases prices for new financial year coming and it might not stop there