Regulator releases draft decision on Goulburn-Murray Water’s pricing to apply from 1 July 2024

The Essential Services Commission has released its draft decision on Goulburn-Murray Water's proposed prices for water services for the 4-year period starting on 1 July 2024.

The draft pricing decision handed down by the commission affects customers receiving rural water services in Goulburn-Murray Water's service area in northern Victoria.

Goulburn-Murray Water set out a comprehensive plan to deliver tangible benefits for customers, proposing lower prices for key services including gravity irrigation, with an extensive engagement program informing the services to be delivered.

Executive director of pricing and regulation Marcus Crudden said Goulburn-Murray Water's price submission demonstrated its commitment to delivering value to its customers.

"Goulburn-Murray Water provided us with a high-quality price submission, underpinned by a comprehensive engagement program and a clear focus on efficiencies and minimising costs.

"Under its pricing plan customers will benefit from investments to maintain and renew assets underpinning service reliability, improved data security and management by the business, and the continued simplification of some key tariffs. Goulburn-Murray Water will also reduce its environmental footprint and continue to work to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035," he said.

Mr Crudden said the commission's draft decision was open for feedback to inform a final decision on prices to be released in June.

"We thank those making a submission to our review process so far. We're now inviting feedback on the draft decision and comments can be made via the Engage Victoria website or by attending a public forum on 23 April," he said.

While accepting most of its proposals, the commission did not accept Goulburn-Murray Water's proposed service point fees for unmetered customers. As a result, Goulburn-Murray Water must recalculate these and resubmit its proposal for these tariffs in response to the draft decision.

The draft decision is open for feedback on Engage Victoria until 7 May 2024.

All submissions will be considered before the commission releases its final decision and issues a price determination in June 2024.

Table: Estimated typical customer (medium) bills for gravity irrigation based on Goulburn-Murray Water's proposal (2023-24)

	2023-24 (current)	2024-25 (first year of next period)	2027-28 (final year of next period)
Shepparton	$7,801	$7,833	$7,741
Central Goulburn	$7,585	$7,624	$7,583
Rochester	$7,525	$7,579	$7,583
Loddon Valley	$7,699	$7,693	$7,441
Murray Valley	$7,773	$7,830	$7,847
Torrumbary	$7,428	$7,499	$7,547

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