MEDIA RELEASE
23 July 2004

Not a drop more for Auckland city water

The Auckland City Council has confirmed the city’s water and wastewater services will stay at last year’s prices, meaning tariffs have been held for the third year running.

This is on top of Metrowater’s 10 per cent prompt payment discount introduced last year, which equates to an average saving of around $70 a year for residents ($9 million in total).

Metrowater, Auckland City’s water and wastewater retailer, is a council-controlled organisation (CCO) established to provide residents and businesses with water and wastewater (sewage) services.

Its proposed pricing plan was presented in its Statement of Intent for 2004/2005, which was recently approved by the council’s Finance and Corporate Business Committee.

Committee chairperson Councillor Douglas Armstrong says he’s pleased with Metrowater’s excellent performance and welcomes the benefits for customers.

“Metrowater knowledge of the pipe networks and its ongoing improvement of its business processes means it is able to absorb increases from its own suppliers. This has been helped by the commitment of Watercare Services, the regional bulk water and wastewater services wholesaler, not to increase prices beyond CPI – ie under the price of inflation.

“This, combined with the 10 per cent prompt payment discount, means customers will in fact be paying less in their water bills than they were two years ago,” said Mr Armstrong.

“Today’s announcement reinforces the council’s recent decision to direct a $7.1 million price adjustment from Watercare into urgently needed stormwater upgrades. Auckland city residents and businesses will receive a no-surprises water bill as well as a strong injection of funding into the city’s outdated stormwater network.”

Ends

© Scoop Media