We supply, treat and transfer drinking water to Melbourne’s retail water companies and other non-metropolitan water businesses.
Our bulk water customers include:
- Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water and Western Water)
- South East Water
- Yarra Valley Water
- Gippsland Water
- Barwon Water
- South Gippsland Water
- Westernport Water
Bulk charges comprise fixed monthly availability prices from three separate sources of water (headworks) and a single variable usage price. There is also a variable usage price for the water order from the Victorian Desalination Plant (VDP), however a zero gigalitre desalinated water order for financial year 2023-24 was announced by the Minister in April 2023.
The headworks prices reflect Victorian Government policy changes to the Bulk Water Entitlement Framework that came into effect 1 July 2016. Headworks prices are based on each retailers entitlements share of the Greater Yarra System–Thomson River, North South Pipeline and Victorian Desalination Plant. These prices provide a clear cost signal associated with holding, buying or selling water entitlements.
Prices from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
Retailer | Headworks price ($/month) Greater Yarra System -Thomson River |
Headworks price ($/month) North South Pipeline |
Headworks price ($/month) Victorian Desalination Plant |
Usage price ($ /ML) Transfer |
---|---|---|---|---|
City West Water |
4,874,733.62 |
1,102,104.16 |
11,770,471.64 |
296.54 |
South East Water |
6,581,051.50 |
1,102,104.16 |
15,890,359.67 |
296.54 |
Yarra Valley Water |
6,905,348.88 |
1,102,104.16 |
16,929,918.68 |
296.54 |
Western Water |
582,235.83 |
296.54 | ||
Barwon Water |
510,453.33 |
296.54 | ||
South Gippsland Water |
31,903.33 |
296.54 | ||
Westernport Water |
31,903.33 |
296.54 |
Our prices and price paths for a five year period commencing 1 July 2021 were reviewed through a public process in 2020/21, where the Essential Services Commission:
-
completed extensive analysis of our 2021 Price Submission, which sets out the expected costs to deliver planned capital works programs, service standards and forecast volumes for each prescribed service
-
reviewed capital expenditure, operating expenditure and forecast demand
-
consulted with stakeholders, including a review of submissions made by interested parties.
The 2021 Water Price Review covers a five-year regulatory period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026. The prices set through the review reflect the efficient cost of providing water services.