Cistern Charge Tariff Review

A FAIRER COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER TARIFF MODEL

Currently South Gippsland Water’s commercial wastewater fee is charged on how many toilets a customer has, not what is going down the drain.

Both small businesses and community groups have consistently raised issues about what they perceive as the unfairness of the current non-residential wastewater tariff system (cistern charges).

Current Cistern Tariff Structure

A fixed Cistern Access Fee that ranges from $174 p.a. for 1-2 cisterns up to $4,757p.a. for 36+ cisterns.

A volumetric charge of $2.03 per kL is added based on a percentage of metered water use:

• 80% - Business, community services, education

• 55% - Tourism, hospitals

• 30% - Sporting grounds and clubs

The current structure meant that during the pandemic properties such as motels, caravan parks, hotels and community sports clubs were paying high fixed cistern fees and had low occupancy or water usage.

Your feedback is welcome below

Question Title

* 1. Are you customer of South Gippsland Water and if so, do you pay the current cistern charge tariff?

Yes - pay a cistern charge

Yes - a customer, but unsure if I pay a cistern charge

Yes - a customer

No - not a customer

Unsure

Question Title

* 2. The existing Cistern Charge Tariff is based on how many toilets a customer has and not how much wastewater is put into the sewerage system. It therefore does not accurately reflect the costs to South Gippsland Water of collecting and treating the wastewater. Customers with a large volume of toilets, and low water use are subsidising customers who generate more wastewater for South Gippsland Water to treat.

Current Cistern Tariff Structure:
A fixed Cistern Access Fee that ranges from $174 p.a. for 1-2 cisterns up to $4,757p.a. for 36+ cisterns.
A volumetric charge of $2.03 per kL is added based on a % of metered water use:
• 80% - Business, community services, education
• 55% - Tourism, hospitals
• 30% - Sporting grounds and clubs

Would you like to see South Gippsland Water change it's cistern charge and non-residential tariff structure?

Yes

Comments:

Question Title

* 3. In developing a new tariff structure South Gippsland Water has identified some ‘Key Principles’ it will follow, do you support these?

Check the boxes of all principles you agree with.

The new tariff structure is;

A fairer way to charge non-residential properties for wastewater

Cost neutral to South Gippsland Water, that it doesn’t re-coup more or less money from customers as a whole – this is not a revenue raising exercise.

An accepted type of tariff by the Essential Services Commission of Victoria (the economic regulator of the Victorian water industry)

Easily understood by customers

That the tariff reflects the use and load to the sewer system the customer generates, i.e. ‘user pays’.

That the tariff sends price signals for the efficient use of water

Other principle not listed...

Question Title

* 4. Would you like to participate in further consultation regarding changing the cistern tariff, for example attending a workshop?

Yes

Question Title

* 5. Contact Information

Name

Email Address

Postal Address

Suburb

Postal Code

Contact Number

Question Title

* 1. Are you customer of South Gippsland Water and if so, do you pay the current cistern charge tariff?

Question Title

Question Title

* 3. In developing a new tariff structure South Gippsland Water has identified some ‘Key Principles’ it will follow, do you support these? Check the boxes of all principles you agree with.The new tariff structure is;

Question Title

* 4. Would you like to participate in further consultation regarding changing the cistern tariff, for example attending a workshop?

Question Title

* 5. Contact Information

* 3. In developing a new tariff structure South Gippsland Water has identified some ‘Key Principles’ it will follow, do you support these?

Check the boxes of all principles you agree with.

The new tariff structure is;