ALLCONNEX WATER CHARGES UP BY 3.6 PER CENT

ALLCONNEX Water charges will increase by 3.6 per cent in 2011-12 with an average 7 per cent increase likely per household with State Government bulk water charges added.

The controversial water retailer has extended the State Government CPI cap to all customer bills.

Allconnex Water general manager Andrew Foley, says overall increases would result in a price increase in household bills of between 6.6 per cent and 7.3 per cent in 2011/12 depending on the council area.

“Allconnex Water has gone significantly further than the State Government requirement to cap price rises at CPI for the next two years for households and small businesses,” says Foley.

“We have extended the CPI cap on price rises to every Allconnex customer, not just residential customers and small businesses, ensuring consistency in price increases.”

The price cap does not apply to the State Government’s bulk water charge. This charge will increase by 16 per cent for Gold Coast customers, almost 15 per cent for Logan customers and 29 per cent for Redland customers.

The new pricing will mean the Allconnex Water component of the average household water bill across Gold Coast, Logan and Redland will increase approximately $37.18 a year, or 10 cents a day.

Bulk water charges make up about 60 per cent of the water and wastewater price increases for Gold Coast, Logan and Redland residential customers, based on an average household bill.

In April 2011, the Queensland Government announced that the distribution and retail (Allconnex Water) component of annual water and wastewater charges for residential and small business customers was to be capped at CPI in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Allconnex Water CEO Kim Wood (pictured), made the point that Allconnex is investing more than $1 billion over the next five years across Gold Coast, Logan and Redland to improve and expand water and wastewater networks.

“We have already identified more than $200 million in capital savings by working across three council boundaries and harnessing cost savings due to more appropriate solutions, and economies of scale,” he says.

Allconnex’s water and wastewater charges: $18.85 increase/six monthly account or $9.42 increase based on quarterly charges

State Government’s bulk water charges: $27.00 increase/six monthly account or $13.50 increase based on quarter charges

Overall increase: $45.85 increase/six monthly account or $22.92 increase based on quarterly charges

Logan: Quarterly account issued

Allconnex’s water and wastewater charges: $8.66 increase/quarterly account

State Government’s bulk water charges: $13.50 increase/quarterly account

Overall increase: $22.16 increase/ quarterly account