CANBERRA’S water prices are likely to rise by 4.2 per cent (excluding inflation) over the next five years following a draft determination by the ACT’s economic regulator.

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) draft proposal estimates that the combined water and sewerage services bill for an average Canberra household consuming 200 kilolitres of water a year will increase by $50 over the regulatory period.

“Under our draft decision, an average residential customer is expected to pay $1227 for its annual combined bill in 2023-24, an increase of $50 (or 4.2 per cent) compared to 2022-23,” the ICRC’s senior commissioner Joe Dimasi said. That includes 3 per cent estimate for inflation.

Non-residential customers will see their combined annual bills increase by $437 to $4917, depending on water consumption and the number flushable fixtures installed.

“An average non-residential customer consuming 5000 kilolitres per annum with 50 flushable fixtures installed will see their bill increase by $2108 (or 4.42 per cent),” Dimasi said.

Despite the proposed increase, the commission says combined water and sewerage services bills payable by residential consumers in the ACT remain lower than the average of comparable jurisdictions.

The proposed price increases are due to large planned investment in sewerage treatment, increases in costs, cost of debt and forecast inflation in the 2023-28 regulatory period.

The draft report is open for comment until December, submissions can be sent to the commission at [email protected].

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