For the 2011/12 period residential property owners will now have a choice in how they are billed for water. Property owners will receive all their rates and utilities charges on the same notice, which will be issued twice per year, in August 2011 and March 2012.
What are the water billing choices?
1. Standard Plan (Fixed Allocation)
Residential properties are allocated 772kL of water for the cost of $650 per consumption year, to be charged in two equal amounts over two consecutive rates notices. Water consumption over this allocated amount will be billed at $2.49 per kilolitre used as an excess water charge.
A High Water Consumption Advice will be issued to residential properties that are likely to exceed their water allocation.
2. Water Watchers Plan (Two- Part Tariff)
Residential properties are charged a service connection fee of $296 per year billed in two equal amounts over two consecutive Rates Notices and a water consumption charge billed at $1.18 per kilolitre used.
Which water billing option am I on?
Residential properties
All residential properties connected to the water supply will be automatically put on to the Standard Plan. If you would like to remain on the Standard Plan, you do not need to contact council.
Residential vacant blocks of land
Vacant residential blocks of land with underground water infrastructure will automatically incur a vacant land charge of $296* plus a water consumption charge billed at $1.18 per kilolitre used if a meter is connected.
* This is equal to the value of the service connection fee of the Water Watchers' Plan.
How do I change my water billing option?
You can no longer change your water billing method for the 2011/12 financial year. All residential properties that did not change their water billing method during the opt-in period will automatically be placed on the Standard Plan.
Important information
Changing your water billing option
Residential property owners can only change their water billing option during the opt-in period each year, unless there is a change of ownership or land use, or a water meter is connected to vacant land during the financial year period.
In these instances, residential owners will be given four weeks from the date of lodging the change of ownership/use advice, to advise council of any change to the allocated water billing system. The change will be effective from the first meter read after the date of transfer.
For body corporates, real estate agents, unit owners
Units, duplexes and/or apartments that share a single water meter will need to indicate their water billing preference during the opt-in period between 20 June to 17 July 2011. This means that in the instance of multiple owners, a meeting or the relevant voting mechanism in place for property management will need to occur in time for the property's preference to be indicated during the permitted period.
When do these water billing options come into effect?
Water billing under any system is based on the individual consumption year of the property, not the financial year. Look out for your final meter reading advice or check your August 2011 Rates Notice, to see when your consumption year ends and when the 2011/12 system will commence.