IPART is reviewing the maximum prices that WaterNSW can charge for its rural bulk water services. The prices we set in this review will apply from 1 July 2026.
We recognise that access to safe, reliable and affordable water at a fair price is critical to our communities, environment and economy.
This review will examine the costs of WaterNSW’s rural valleys operations and determine prices for coming years that appropriately balance what customers can afford to pay for bulk water with the efficient level of revenue needed for WaterNSW to remain financially sustainable while meeting its obligations.
This review builds 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 cost shares remain appropriate
- WaterNSW’s pricing structures for its rural water business provide the appropriate signals and outcomes for its bulk water customers.
The Tribunal is now undertaking a more detailed examination of these matters and considering all other matters required under the IPART Act, when reviewing water prices, including:
- the cost of providing the service
- consumer protection against abuse of monopoly power by a water utility
- the need for greater efficiency in the supply of the service to reduce costs to consumers and taxpayers.
- appropriate rates of return on public sector assets
- the social impact of our determinations
- the need to maintain ecologically sustainable development and protect the environment.
We have published our Discussion Paper
We have published our discussion paper seeking feedback from stakeholders on WaterNSW’s expenditure, cost shares and pricing related issues. The paper also sets out important background information and our approach to this review.
We will conduct a detailed and consultative process
We will conduct a thorough and transparent process to examine the costs and impacts for customers, which includes consulting customers and stakeholders.
Your input is valuable to us as we undertake this price review. We will hold 2 workshops in November 2025, with a focus on:
- cost shares – Monday 10 November 2025
- pricing related issues – Monday 17 November 2025
We invite stakeholders to have their say by making a submission to this Discussion Paper, or attending one or both workshops. Next year we will release a Draft Report and call for submissions as well as hold a public hearing on our proposed prices. We will also consider all the information and feedback provided in our 2024-25 pricing review.