Goulburn Murray Water prices set for 2020-24 as uniform tariff unveiled
Irrigators will save about 10 per cent in fees and charges, as the northern Victoria service confirms its new pricing structure.
GOULBURN Murray Water fees will drop about 10 per cent in the next year, as the business finally moves to a uniform pricing structure.
The changes have been approved by the Essential Services Commission, as part of its review of GMW’s proposed water charges for the next four years.
From July 1, customers can expect a 10 per cent drop in charges and prices for 2020-21, before further declines of just under one per cent each year until 2024.
Significantly, GMW’s six gravity irrigation districts will now have a common water delivery charge – a measure GMW had sought in the last price review but the ESC rejected.
Previously, Shepparton had a different pricing structure, after farmers and GMW’s own water services committee opposed a uniform approach.
This time, however, the ESC found GMW could move to a single charge across all districts.
“We consider the costs in each district are sufficiently similar to be covered by a common charge,” the ESC stated in its review.
“A single charge supports administrative simplicity and appears to be supported by customers.”
Other changes include:
ALL retail water customers to pay water storage fees based on a system-wide approach; and
INCREASES to metered and unmetered service point fees for diversion customers.
GMW has locked in revenue of $439.5 million for the next four years – $65 million less than that recorded between 2016-20.
The ESC said the reduction reflected “cost efficiencies” from infrastructure upgrades and GMW’s business restructure.
GMW said the new pricing structure marked “a new era” for the business and “a fairer deal for all”.
“This is a fantastic outcome underpinned by the ongoing transformation and now continuous
improvement of our business,” GMW managing director Charmaine Quick said.
“As we continue to drive efficiencies and innovation across GMW through the consolidation and reduction of costs, we can now pass these savings on to our customers.”
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