Big water users facing steep bills.

(From Canberra Times)

Canberra's high water users face price increases of up to 28 per cent from July 1 while low- end users will see their bills fall by as much as 40 per cent.

Price increases for water and wastewater services granted by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission include a new tariff structure which will reduce the fixed annual supply charge from $125 to $75.

The cost of the first 100 kilolitres of water will increase from 43c to 50c, which now applies for the first 175 kilolitres.

At present each kilolitre above 175 costs $1.05. Under the new tariff each kilolitre from 100 to 300 will cost $1 with each kilolitre above 300 kilolitres costing $1.35.

Senior commissioner Paul Baxter said yesterday people using up to about 320 kilolitres a year - about 60 per cent of Actew's customers - would pay little more for water. But people using 400 to 500 kilolitres a year would face considerable price increases.

He said the new tariff structure would give consumers a greater incentive to better manage and hopefully reduce their water consumption. Including water and waste- water charges, a Canberra household consuming about 300 kilolitres a ...