How to read your business bill

Bills for business customers vary. What they include depends on the type of business and how the property is used. This example covers most business charges. Some of these charges may not apply to your property.

1 Account number
The unique number that identifies your property.

2 Fixed charges
These are charges for your connections to our water, wastewater and stormwater services (if applicable). Use our fixed charges calculator to find out the fixed charges for your property.

3 Usage charges
These charges are for water, wastewater and recycled water services at your property over the past billing cycle. If there's a price change during the billing cycle, we'll adjust the charge based on the number of days.

4 Other charges and credits
These charges depend on the type of business you operate on your property. This is also where you will see any credit on the account, late payment and interest charges.

5 Online ID
This is your unique property owner ID. You need it to register for My Account.

6 Payment number
This is the unique reference number you need to pay your bill. You also need it to register for My Account.

7 Automatic payment notification
This only appears if your bill is paid by direct debit. You can manage direct debit in My Account anytime. If you don't have direct debit, this section lists other payment options.

A–F See over for details
This refers to more detailed sections on page 2, below.

A Details of water usage
Usually includes a graph comparing your current usage to the same time last year and your last bill. The next section includes:

• Meter No. – your meter's unique serial number
• This Reading and Last Reading – your latest meter reading compared to the previous reading
• Meter Reading Period – the length of time the latest reading covers
• Consumption (kL) – how much water was used between the readings, in kilolitres.
  

Find out more about your meter.

C Details of recycled water usage
Includes your recycled (purple) meter serial number, the size of your meter, the readings on it, the period the charge covers and how much water was used.

8 Customer information
This is information we need you to know. It may include price increases, explanations of charges, your rights to rebates, or additional services available to you. We also state the current late payment fee and interest rate that apply if you don't pay your bill on time.

B Discharge factor
Under 'Customer information'. Also known as a wastewater usage discharge factor (WUDF). This is how we calculate non-residential wastewater charges for most business properties. In this example, we're charging based on 45% of the water usage leaving the property as wastewater.

E Trade wastewater pollutant charge
Under 'Customer information'. Relates to the industrial trade wastewater consent at the property, and includes the total charge. You'll find a breakdown of that charge in a later section of your bill. See below.

F Trade waste (commercial) quality charges
Under 'Customer information'. This charge relates to the commercial trade wastewater permit at the property, and include the total charge. You'll find a breakdown of the charge in a later section of your bill. See below.

D Wastesafe administration charge
Under 'Customer information'. This charge relates to the grease trap pump out required by the commercial trade wastewater permit at the property and includes the total charge. You'll find a breakdown of the charge in a later section of your bill. See below.