The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has released its final decision and report on the maximum prices that Icon Water can charge for its regulated water and sewerage services.
The Commission decided on a 1.5 per cent increase in water charges but Icon Water has chosen to freeze prices instead.
Senior Commissioner of ICRC, Joe Dimasi said the report, Regulated water and sewerage services 2020–21 price adjustment, revealed the price increase would have been equivalent to an increase of $18 on annual bills for the typical Icon Water customer.
“Icon Water has made a decision to freeze combined water and sewerage prices during 2020‑21 at their 2019-20 levels, recognising the impact of COVID-19 on customers and the community,” Senior Commissioner Dimasi said.
“This means that customers will continue to pay the 2019-20 Tier One and Tier Two water usage prices and a combined water and sewerage supply charge that remains at 2019-20 levels,” he said.
“The price freeze means that a typical household consuming 200 kilolitres of water per year will save $18 off the total water and sewerage bill that Icon Water could have charged for 2020-21.”
Commissioner Dimasi said the ICRC had also set a maximum increase on water supply charges of $20 and reduced the fixed sewerage charge by $6.21.
“Whilst Icon Water intends to freeze overall prices, it will increase the water supply charge by $6.21 (which is below the maximum increase of $20 allowed by the Commission) to offset a reduction in the fixed sewerage charge of $6.21 determined by the Commission,” he said.
The ICRC’s 25-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
