28 June, 2023
Somerset water bills to rise 5.2 per cent
THE typical household water and sewerage bill in Somerset will increase by 5.2 per cent from Saturday, which is below CPI.
This will add $19.29 to a typical residential quarterly bill and includes the Queensland Government’s State Bulk Water Charge, which is passed directly through to customers on their bill.
Urban Utilities CEO Paul Arnold recognised ongoing cost of living pressures were impacting many in the community and said they had kept their 2023-24 prices as low as possible.
“We know cost of living is on everyone’s minds and we’ve continued to work hard to keep bills as low as we can, but with high inflation many of our costs have increased,” he said.
“Our commitment to our customers remains as strong as ever – clean, safe water every day, 24/7 crews, our local contact centre, supporting vulnerable customers and protecting our environment.
“The price change is needed to make sure we can continue to deliver reliable services to our customers, while also renewing our vast network and investing in essential infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing communities.”
Mr Arnold said Urban Utilities would invest around $17 million in essential water and wastewater infrastructure in the Somerset region in 2023-24.
“This will include $1.6 million for renewing water pipes in the area,” he said.
“We will also continue the $13 million project to construct a new water reservoir in Esk to improve the reliability of the local water network and cater for growth and complete a new $2 million water pipeline in Kilcoy.”
Mr Arnold said support was also available for any customers who experience difficulty in paying their bill.
“We encourage anyone having difficulty to get in touch with us, as we have a range of assistance options available including interest-free payment extensions and flexible payment plans,” he said.
