'Modest increase' in water bill price in store for Tasmanians

TASMANIANS will be hit with a 3.5 per cent increase in water from the beginning of next month and they have been warned increases beyond the next period are likely to be higher.

TasWater’s prices will rise from July 1.

In arguing in favour of the increase, TasWater said the average residential customer would see their bill increase by 13.04 cents a day — or under a dollar a week.

The water authority described it as a ``modest increase’’ which would give Tasmanians certainty around water and sewerage prices through to June 30 2026.

TasWater’s General Manager Customer and Community, Matt Balfe, said the organisation remained focused on keeping bills as affordable as possible, ``even as we face the need to upgrade and modernise our water and sewerage infrastructure’’.

```This will be the fourth consecutive year where price increases have been kept at 3.5 percent, following two years where prices were frozen at zero per cent,’’ Mr Balfe said.

``It is also the final price increase under Price and Service Plan 4. TasWater is currently preparing its submission for the next regulatory period — Price and Service Plan 5 (PSP5) — which will be lodged with the Economic Regulator by the end of the financial year.

``With operational costs rising and infrastructure continuing to age, future price increases are likely to be higher.

``That’s why it’s so important to make sure our next plan reflects the right balance between affordability and the level of service people expect.

``We need to invest now to secure Tasmania’s water future, avoid passing burden onto future generations.” 

He said TasWater’s ageing network accounted for 38 per cent of Australia’s water and sewerage treatment plants while servicing just two per cent of the country’s population.

``We’ve got some big challenges ahead to ensure the security of safe, reliable water for generations to come.’’

To help shape PSP5, TasWater established a Community Advisory Panel made up of 45 Tasmanians. The panel delivered seven key recommendations for the next four years, including protecting water security and the environment, reducing leakage, upgrading metering, giving customer more control over their bills and supporting customers doing it tough.

``These community priorities will be at the heart of our next plan,” Mr Balfe said. 

``We also know cost-of-living pressures are being felt across the state, and we’re doing everything we can to keep our prices down and to support our customers.’’