Minister Barr: Review of Water and Sewerage Pricing Framework released
- Written by ACT Government
Released 04/06/2015
Today I have released the final report of the review into the ACT’s Water and Sewerage Pricing Framework.
The report was commissioned by the government in November last year and has been led by independent expert Peter Grant PSM.
The most recent pricing determination about water prices in the ACT was only finally resolved last month – almost two years after the pricing period was due to start. Given length of this process, the Government commissioned Mr Grant to undertake a review to explore options for reform.
The options include a ‘business as usual’ approach of the ICRC continuing to set prices, a greater role for the Government in setting prices and outsourcing pricing determinations to expert bodies interstate. The Government will consider these options carefully and invite relevant stakeholders to have their say.
The Final Report – Pricing of Regulated Water and Sewerage Services: Review of the Regulatory Framework, which examines the current process for setting regulated water and sewerage prices in the ACT, is part of the government’s response to the ACT Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Report, The Water and Sewerage Pricing Process (Report No. 2/2014).
The Review presents a comprehensive, independent assessment of the current pricing framework in the ACT, and discusses the key strengths and weaknesses of that framework as context for its conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations draw from various conclusions made about the current framework in the ACT, and provide a number of potential reform options for the government to consider.
The government is committed to ensuring robust processes are used to determine regulated water and sewerage prices in the Territory, to ensure the community can have ongoing confidence in the regulatory framework.
The next step for the government is to consult with key stakeholders, as we consider the findings and all potential future options before the development of a formal response, which will be released in due course.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Grant for his outstanding work in undertaking the review of the ACT’s regulatory framework for regulated water and sewerage services.
The Grant Review can be found on the ACT Government website at www.act.gov.au/frameworkreview.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
