Review of Essential Energy’s prices for water and sewerage services in Broken Hill (IPART)

There are a number of challenges for pricing water and sewerage services in Broken Hill due to the high cost of delivering these services (a remote and arid location with a new pipeline), the need for high water use (a hot climate and the need to reduce dust due to the presence of lead) and the high numbers of people in the community who are on low incomes. PIAC made comments on:

• The approach for establishing efficient costs and setting affordable prices
• The distribution of wealth in the community
• Assessing need through Essential Water’s restrictions, hardship program and payment plan
• Cost of living in Broken Hill
• Annual bill increases
• Cost pass through events
• Price structure, and
• Customer engagement