Bulk Water Investigations
The Commission was previously required by section 24 of the Government Prices Oversight Act 1995 (GPO Act) to conduct an investigation into the pricing policies of the Hobart Regional Water Authority (Hobart Water), Cradle Coast Water and the Esk Water Authority (Esk Water) every three years. Legislation was passed in 2008 which will significantly change the structure of the provision of water and waste water services in Tasmania. Consequently, the Commission last investigation into the pricing policies of the three bulk water authorities was in 2007.
Section 31 of the GPO Act requires the Commission to take account of a number of matters including:
- costs, efficiency and quality of supply of the monopoly service;
- interstate or international benchmarks;
- protection of consumers from the adverse effects of monopoly power;
- where appropriate, the need for a reasonable return to the owners on assets of a monopoly provider; and
- the need for a monopoly provider to be financially viable.
2007 Investigation of Pricing Policies
The Treasurer issued the  Terms of Reference for the 2007 Investigation into the pricing policies of the three bulk water authorities on 13 March 2007.
This is the Commission’s fourth three-yearly investigation of pricing policies of the bulk water authorities as required by the GPO Act.
The Commission has now released its Final Report, which takes account of submissions received in response to the Draft Report. The Minister Assisting the Premier on Local Government has also made a Determination, in accordance with the GPO Act, that specifies the maximum revenues which each of the Authorities may earn for the ensuing three year period.
Submissions in response to the Draft Report were received from:
The Commission released its Draft Report, which takes account of submissions received from each of the Authorities in response to the Terms of Reference for the Investigation, in May 2007. The Draft Report sets out the Commission's draft recommendations in relation to the Authorities' pricing policies and the maximum revenues that may be earned for the ensuing three year period.
Submissions in response to the Terms of Reference were received from:
Persons or bodies wishing to receive information and reports prepared as part of this investigation are asked to register their interest with the Office in writing or by email. For further information (or hard copies of documents) please contact the Office by phone on (03) 6233 5665 or by email to office@gpoc.tas.gov.au.
Past Investigations
[2004] [2001] [1998]
[Investigations]
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