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Water bills also have two main parts — the service charge and the usage charge.
Although it’s gradually changing, service charges are generally the larger part of a water bill.
If a property is rented, the landlord or owner of the property, not the occupier, must pay the service charge. Tenants just pay for the water they use.
Meter readings
Your water usage is based on a reading of your water meter.
Water meters are read every three months in metropolitan areas. Most regional urban water companies also read meters every three months, though for some it’s every four months.
Urban water companies can estimate bills, but they must use ‘reasonable endeavours’ to read your meter each billing cycle — and at least once every 12 months. This means that, potentially, three out of four water bills each year — or two of three bills for some regional urban water companies — could be estimated. If a bill estimated, this must be noted on it.
Concessions
If you hold an eligible concession card, your bill may be reduced by government concessions.
Water pricing can be complicated.
There are differences between metropolitan areas and regional areas,
because different laws apply. The metropolitan water companies operate
under the Water Industry Act 1994. Regional water companies operate
under the Water Act 1989. For more details, see EWOV’s Charges on water bills fact sheet 6 and Charges on water bills fact sheet 7.
Information about Urban water prices
Return to Pricing and billing
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