The Essential Services Commission of Victoria yesterday released its final decision that water and sewerage bills for Melbourne households will have to increase in real terms by 51 to 64 per cent over the next four years. Such hefty rises have been deemed necessary to fund projects to improve the water and sewerage infrastructure, including new sewage treatment plants and the desalination plant.

The impact on a typical Melbourne household’s water bills depends upon where you live:

• City West Water customers: a $290 increase in your annual bill by 2012-13 (from $568 in 2008-09 to $858 in 2012-13)
• South East Water customers: a $328 increase in your annual bill by 2012-13 (from $566 in 2008-09 to $894 in 2012-13)
• Yarra Valley Water customers: a $375 increase in your annual bill by 2012-13 (from $585 in 2008-09 to $960 in 2012-13)

Note that the figures quoted above are real prices meaning that the 2012-13 figures could be around 10% higher at current inflation levels.

Read more: ESC Media Release.