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How prices are set

Sydney Water pricing determination 2012

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribumal of NSW (IPART) is reviewing the pricing of water, wastewater and stormwater services in Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. The new prices will apply from 1 July 2012.

The IPART pricing review is a fully transparent process involving public submissions and public hearings. Sydney Water is working with IPART to ensure they have all the information to price water accurately so that we can continue to provide quality services.

Sydney Water has provided a submission asking for price increases above inflation to maintain existing assets and infrastructure, provide for growth and to guarantee reliability of service. IPART held a public hearing on 22 November 2011.

It is expected IPART will release a draft determination in March 2012. For more information, see the IPART website.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) determines the prices that customers pay for water, wastewater, stormwater and other services in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra through periodic reviews.

On 16 June 2008 IPART released its final determination of Sydney Water prices from 2008-09 to 2011-12.

These price rises have helped fund Sydney Water's commitments under the Metropolitan Water Plan to increase our water supply in the context of climate change and population growth. We have:

built Sydney's desalination plant to provide up to 250 million litres a day (70 billion litres a year) by 2015
delivered several large recycling schemes to increase the recycled water supply to 12 per cent of Sydney's needs
worked with businesses and householders on Water efficiency schemes to save a further 20 per cent of Sydney's water needs
replaced, renewed and built infrastructure to ensure better performance by the water system and to meet Sydney’s growth.

Sydney Water has provided a submission asking for price increases above inflation to maintain existing assets and infrastructure, provide for growth and to guarantee reliability of service. IPART is currently undertaking the review of Sydney Water's prices for 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Sydney Water has a financial assistance program to help customers on limited incomes or with special needs to pay their bills and save water.