Under our draft decisions WaterNSW’s bulk water charges would increase by up to 10% per year plus inflation over the next three years, from 1 July 2026.
To manage the affordability impacts on customer prices we have made draft decisions to maintain valley-based pricing and to cap annual price increases at a maximum of 10% per year before inflation.
For customers subject to Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Border Rivers Commission charges, these price increase caps have been applied inclusive of these charges.
This review builds on the work on the work we undertook in our review of WaterNSW regional and rural bulk water prices from 2025 which resulted in a 1-year determination. During that review, we identified the need to identify whether:
- WaterNSW’s base costs are efficient
- The impactor pays principle and resulting user shares remain appropriate
- WaterNSW’s pricing structures for its rural water business provide the appropriate signals and outcomes for its bulk water customers.
Our analysis and draft decisions on these and other issues is discussed in our Draft Report.
We note that this review focuses on WaterNSW’s rural valleys operations only. Separate determinations cover WaterNSW’s Greater Sydney, Murray to Broken Hill pipeline, and Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC) services.
We invite stakeholders to have their say by making a submission to this Draft Report by 11 May 2026. We also invite you to register to attend our Public Hearing on 21 April 2026.
We will consider all the information and feedback provided in our 2024-25 pricing review, as well as the relevant considerations under legislation, and will continue to have regard to the issues raised in all submissions and consultation from our 2025 review in making our decisions.