ACT residential water and sewerage prices are set to fall by a combined 2.2 per cent from July 1, following a decision today (June 15) by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission.

“An average residential customer consuming 200kL of water per annum will see a saving in their annual water and sewerage services bill of $26 (a reduction of 2.2 per cent)” senior commissioner Joe Dimasi said.

“Non-residential customers will see their combined annual bills decrease by $384 to $4437, depending on water consumption and the number flushable fixtures installed.

“An average non-residential customer consuming 5000kL per annum with 50 flushable fixtures installed will see their bill decrease by $2186 per annum (a decrease of 4.5 per cent).”

He said the decrease in the water usage charge reflected a lower cost of debt, a lower than forecast water abstraction charge due to wet weather conditions, and an adjustment to account for an over-recovery of the 2019–20 water abstraction charge. Combined these more than offset inflation.