Our Final report sets out IPART’s decisions on the maximum prices that WaterNSW can charge for its regional and rural bulk water services from 1 July 2026.
We have maintained most of our draft decisions.
Key changes to our draft decisions are to set prices for a term of 4 years, make some adjustments to expenditure decisions and cost share ratios.
To manage the affordability impacts on customer prices we have decided to maintain valley-based pricing and to cap annual price increases at a maximum of 10% per year before inflation over the next four years, from 1 July 2026.
For customers subject to Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Border Rivers Commission charges, these price increase caps have been applied inclusive of these charges.
During this review we considered 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 Final Report.
This review focused 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 considered all the information and feedback provided in our 2024-25 pricing review, as well as new submissions, issues raised in workshops and the public hearing as well as the relevant considerations under legislation in making our decisions.