Barwon Water welcomes the preliminary approval of its 2023-2028 Price Submission from the Essential Services Commission (ESC).

The price submission was developed following the most significant customer engagement ever completed by the organisation, with customers making recommendations on their priorities for the next five-year pricing period.

The submission outlines critical infrastructure investments and initiatives to use more recycled water, reduce energy costs and help customers pay their bills and save water. It is also a blueprint for the corporation to deliver greater value for customers and provide stable bills for the next five years.

Customers and the broader community are encouraged to find out more about the price submission and share their views ahead of the final determination, which is expected in June 2023. Customers will have the opportunity to attend an online forum hosted by the ESC on the 28 April.

New pricing and service standards that will form part of the final determination will come into effect from 1 July 2023.

Managing Director Tracey Slatter said she knew rising costs were a concern for customers, and the submission sets out plans to keep bills affordable and declining in real terms, which the corporation has continued to achieve since 2012 (excluding inflation).

“Under our proposed pricing schedule, typical annual water and sewerage bills for customers will decrease by around 6.8 per cent from 2022-23 to 2027-28, excluding inflation,” Ms Slatter said.

“Average annual household water bills will decrease from approximately $1,076 in 2022-23 to $1,061 in 2023-24, and will continue to decrease by approximately $15 each year to $1,003 in 2027-28,” Ms Slatter said.

Other highlights from the submission include support for customers, with nearly $5 million allocated to customer support programs that help any customer experiencing financial stress, as well as a planned $549.4 million capital works program in the region over the next five years.

“This keeps cost pressures off households and businesses, while still enabling us to develop essential services and infrastructure that will stand up to the future needs of a growing population and a warming climate,” Ms Slatter said.

Ms Slatter said the corporation was pleased to provide a submission that was guided by customer feedback.

“Customer engagement has been an essential part of our price submission process, helping us to identify what our customers value most in terms of their water supply and sewerage services”.

The ongoing engagement program also informed commitments to customers that Barwon Water will track its performance against annually. These outcomes are: ‘safe, secure, sustainable water’, ‘innovative, reliable services’, ‘a healthier environment’ and ‘trust, value and affordability’.

Victorian water businesses are required to make a price submission to the Essential Services Commission every five years to outline proposed prices and key service outcomes for customers.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from the ESC in June and then putting our plans into action, delivering improvements for our customers, community and environment,” Ms Slatter said.

The Essential Services Commission will be holding an online public consultation at 12pm on 28 April 2023 to receive feedback on its draft decision.

Those unable to attend can still provide feedback anytime via Engage Victoria until Tuesday 9 May 2023.