Desalination order
Water usage prices on your bill are slightly lower, as a result of the remaining 2022–23 desalination water order for Melbourne ceasing.
Ceasing the desalination order
On 23 September 2022, the Minister for Water ceased Melbourne’s remaining desal order (11 gigalitres; 11,000,000 million litres) for 2023–23. The order was ceased after considering advice from Melbourne Water about the current and projected weather conditions and the secure state of Melbourne’s water supply.
Each year the Victorian Government decides how much water to order from the Victorian Desalination Plant. On 1 April 2022, the Victorian Government announced a desal order of 15 gigalitres (15,000,000 litres) for the 2022–23 supply year to boost water storages. Melbourne has already received 4 gigalitres.
Water usage and charges
Prices have decreased by 4 cents per kilolitre for drinking water usage from 1 October 2022 until 30 June 2023.
If your water usage has not increased since the same time last year, the average household will save around $1.50 per bill until 30 June 2023.
This applies to all residential and non-residential customers who receive drinking water and bills for water usage from Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water), South East Water and Yarra Valley Water.
Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water):
| Water usage | Price per kilolitre (before Oct 2022) |
Price per kilolitre (after Oct 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 (0-440 litres/day) | 2.7584 | 2.7184 |
| Step 2 (441+ litres/day) | 3.2411 | 3.2011 |
| Non-residential water tariff | 2.8751 | 2.8351 |
Customers will still be billed for desalinated water that was produced before the water order was ceased (around 4 gigalitres) which relates to water usage in July, August and September 2022.
FAQs
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You’ll see the reduced prices on bills that include water usage from October 2022 to June 2023.
Future desalinated water orders will continue to be based on the best available information, including current and projected storage levels, current and future climate forecasts and system operation plans.
Any new payment plans from October 2022 will account for the price reduction. If you set up a payment plan with us before then, your account will be in credit for the amount saved by the price reduction.
If you’re on a payment plan, we encourage you to keep your account in credit until you renew your payment plan and we recalculate your payments.
If you’d prefer your payment plan takes into account the price reduction, we’ll need to cancel your current plan and start a new one. If you pay your bill quarterly, the credit on this bill will continue to carry forward until your costs are more than your total credit.
If you move out before you receive your next bill during October, November or December 2022, you won’t be eligible for the price reduction.
If you move into another property in Melbourne serviced by either Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water), South East Water or Yarra Valley Water then you’ll receive the price reduction on your water usage at the new property.
Customers who aren’t charged for water use won’t receive the decreased price – this includes landlords and customers receiving bills for waterways and drainage or Parks Charge only.
Customers who receive a bill from Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water), South East Water and Yarra Valley Water with water usage charges will get the price reduction. You’ll get the price reduction in all your water bills from October 2022 until 30 June 2023.
If you’re a Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water), South East Water or Yarra Valley Water customer, you’ll receive the drinking water price reduction for water used at the property you live in, not your investment property.
As tenants are charged for their drinking water use at your investment property, they’ll receive the reduced price on their bills.
If your total bill is up-to-date and your account is in credit, yes you can receive a refund.
The price reduction is passed on to households in the second billing period of the financial year which is from October to December 2022. Depending on when you move into your property, you should receive the price reduction on your next bill.
Decreased water usage prices will be applied in your next bill which will arrive between October and December 2022. If you close your account and move interstate before you receive your water bill this period, you won’t receive the price reduction.
Deceased estates that use drinking water from 1 October 2022 will also receive the price reduction.
