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You can let IPART know your views on Hunter Water's proposal in person on 19 November 2019.
There are two opportunities, both at Harbourview Function Centre, 150 Wharfs Road, Newcastle.
10:30 am to 2:30 pm Public Hearing
IPART prefers that you register to attend. You can register on their website by clicking here.
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm Drop-in Session
You can simply show up. No need to register.
IPART will publish a draft report in March 2020 which will also call for submissions.
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Snapshot of our 2020-25 Pricing Proposal:
- $424 million on wastewater system improvements to service growth in the region and to minimise the environmental impacts
- $259 million on water supply improvements to service growth, reduce leakage and renew assets
- Investments in recycled water and energy efficiency projects
- Water conservation programs including Love Water and programs to reduce leakage.
Customer input on our services and service standards informed our submission.
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We plan to invest more than $871 million in its infrastructure, technology and services over the next five years, while maintaining one of the lowest bills in the country.
In our 2020-25 Pricing Proposal to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), Hunter Water has outlined its intention to make significant capital investments in upgrading the region’s water and wastewater systems, as well as continuing to focus on water conservation initiatives and reducing leakage. If approved, it would be the biggest capital spend since 2011.
Hunter Water Acting Chief Executive Officer Darren Cleary said the proposal reflects Hunter Water’s commitment to deliver even better services, while offering value for money for its customers.
“We believe we have the balance right in terms of investing more in our infrastructure and services to maintain efficient and high quality services for our customers while keeping costs down.
“Over the next five years, Hunter Water is proposing to spend $424 million, or half of its total investment, on improving and upgrading the wastewater system to service growth in the region and to minimise the impact of our wastewater system on the environment.
This will ensure we can reliably service our fast-growing region into the future and will also help drive even better environmental outcomes by maintaining the health of our waterways.
“Among the major infrastructure investment is $259 million in our water supply system to service growth, reduce leakage, renew assets and ensure the continued delivery of safe, high quality drinking water.
“In addition, we will continue to focus on driving down water consumption through our Love Water campaign and invest in recycled water and energy efficiency projects.
“Even with significant investment in our capital program, if approved, we’ll maintain one of the lowest bills in the country. We anticipate the bill of an average household would increase by approximately $60 per year, or $1.15 per week.
“Hunter Water is here to serve our community, and we believe our level of investment will help avoid longer term price increases and will improve the service and experience for our customers,” said Mr Cleary.
IPART will review Hunter Water’s proposal and undertake a public consultation process, with customers and community members encouraged to give feedback. It will release a draft determination in March 2020.
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Our largest ever residential customer survey has shown that our customers are willing to pay more for projects that benefit the community.
More than 70 per cent of respondents said they would be willing to pay for discretionary services such as landscaping around drains, carbon reduction, stormwater harvesting, wastewater recycling for irrigation of public parks and targeted water conservation programs.
However, customers were less willing to pay for projects they perceived would benefit businesses and industry.
This community survey helps us to better understand our customers’ needs and incorporate these into our planning. It shows there is a community appetite for us to deliver projects that go beyond water and wastewater infrastructure.
Our challenge is to balance the competing demands of providing a higher level of service, particularly in relation to environmental and liveability projects, while keeping water bills low.
These survey results will inform our price submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Learn more about the 2019 Price Review.
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We asked for your views on the way we structure our prices via sn online survey being run by Woolcott Research. The survey for residential customers has now closed.
Your feedback will be used in a review by the independent regulator (IPART) to help set prices for Hunter Water customers from 2020.
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Hunter Water is currently considering possible investments in water, wastewater, stormwater, urban amenity and other services for the period between 2020 and 2025.
In mid-2018 we asked our customers to give us a clearer idea of the investment choices that they think we should make.
Some investments are needed in order to comply with regulations and standards set by government. Our survey focused on investments that we think our customers may like us to make to help create the region our communities desire.
The survey results show that most residential customers are willing to pay for Hunter Water to provide some higher liveability and environmental service standards between 2020 and 2025.
Read more in the a two-page summary (see link under Related Documents on the right hand side of the screen).
Hunter Water's Response to IPART Issues Paper (4 MB) (pdf)
