Water pricing principles

Our pricing principles guide us in assessing the level and structure of prices, when we make recommendations to the Queensland Government about pricing practices relating to monopoly water supply activities. The principles may also provide guidance to other water suppliers.

The principles are generally intended to promote economic efficiency and social equity in the supply and use of water and water supply infrastructure. This aim is consistent with our regulatory obligations.  

We consider it important for our pricing principles to be transparent and predictable, so that stakeholders can maintain confidence in our decision-making and benefit from reduced regulatory costs.

We may refine these principles in future, as necessary, to take account of technological or institutional changes that alter our regulatory framework.

---

2020 review

We are currently reviewing our Statement of Regulatory Pricing Principles for the Water Sector (December 2000).

We released a draft statement for stakeholder comment in November 2020 with submissions due by 29 January 2021.

All submissions received are available below.

We will finalise our review after considering all the stakeholder feedback received.

Reports and papers

---

Existing water pricing principles (December 2000)

We published our existing Statement of Regulatory Pricing Principles for the Water Sector in December 2000.

These pricing principles largely reflect outcomes associated with the operation of competitive markets but also seek to take account of a wide range of other public interest matters. We considered that prices should be cost-reflective and forward-looking, ensure revenue adequacy and promote sustainable investment.

We commissioned reports from various consultancies (available below) to contribute to the development of the consolidated statement of pricing principles.

Reports and papers