2012 - 2013 Water Supply and Sewerage Service Pricing
PRICE FREEZE FOR 2012/13
What has Unitywater announced about 2012-13 prices?
Unitywater has decided to impose a freeze on its current water and sewerage charges so there will be no increase to these prices next financial year. That means households across the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions will not pay more for fixed access charges in the next financial year.
While the price per kilolitre for Unitywater's water usage won't change, the amount on your account will reflect your water consumption. We recommend that you read your meter every two weeks to better understand your water usages and identify and potential problems such as leaks.
Which fees and charges will be unchanged?
The price freeze applies to our water and sewerage fees and charges. It does not include fees and charges for trade waste, recycled water and some miscellaneous fees and charges.
In addition, it will not apply to the State Government’s bulk water charges, which are not controlled by Unitywater. For further information on the State Government's bulk water charges refer to the Queensland Water Commission.
How can Unitywater afford to freeze prices next financial year?
It’s possible because of our ongoing efforts to find savings in the organisation and because we have a larger customer base with the combined Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast council areas. The extra numbers allow us to get a better deal for our customers in a range of different areas.
Does the price freeze mean services will be reduced?
Definitely not. Unitywater remains committed to providing high quality water supply and sewerage services 24-hours a day, seven days a week to our customers. Our aim is to keep improving our customer standards.
Does Unitywater plan to delay capital works spending?
No, we’ll be rolling out our $120 million capital works program in 2012-13 as planned.
Does this mean Unitywater has been overcharging in the past?
No, our prices for the last two years have been monitored and approved by the Queensland Competition Authority, which actually found we were undercharging.
Are you reacting to pressure from politicians or interest groups?
No, we’ve been committed to keeping prices as low as possible from the outset and we have made a concerted effort to identify savings across our organisation since we commenced operations in 1 July 2010. It means those savings are now flowing through to our customers.
Can we expect big price rises in 12 months’ time as a result of this freeze.
That is not our intention. It is still early days for Unitywater and we will continue with our efforts to find further savings and achieve greater efficiencies across the organisation.
Under the state legislation passed last year, annual increases in distributor-retailers’ fees and charges are capped at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) until 1 July 2014.
That means Unitywater, along with other water and sewerage service providers in South East Queensland, cannot raise fees and charges by more than the CPI each year.
After 2014, Unitywater’s owner-councils will be responsible for establishing Price Mitigation Plans under the legislation.
So has Unitywater decided to reduce its profits?
We’re a statutory organisation, not a private business, so we’re not here to maximise profits. We’re owned by the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Councils and we are obliged to provide them with a return, based on the assets (pipes, pumps and treatment plants) they contributed to Unitywater when it was set up in 2010. The participation agreement to provide a return to our owner councils remains in place.
Media release: Unitywater delivers price freeze for 2012-13
Media release: Water bills $200 lower than allowed maximum