The State Treasurer asked the Economic Regulation Authority (Authority) on 7 July 2008 to undertake an inquiry into the pricing of recycled water in Western Australia.

In accordance with the Terms of Reference, the Authority has considered and developed findings on:

• the circumstances in which recycled water prices should be regulated, and the recommended approach to any required regulation;
• the pricing recommendations of the State Water Recycling Strategy, including the appropriateness of faster adoption of cost-reflective prices for major industry; and
• other factors that the Authority considers relevant to the adoption of recycled water and other alternative water supplies.

In developing its recommendations, the Authority considered a number of factors, including:

• the Government's social, economic and environmental policy objectives;
• distributional issues, such as those between customers of recycled water services and other services in the same scheme; and
• the Government’s water reform agreement and the National Water Initiative.

The Authority published an issues paper on 1 August 2008 and a draft report on 4 November 2008. Submissions in response to the issues paper and the draft report can be viewed on the public submissions page.

The Authority delivered its final report to the Treasurer on 6 February 2009. The report is now available to the public.

Contacts

Further information can be obtained from: Dr Ursula Kretzer Manager Projects Ph: (08) 9213 1900 Fax: (08) 9213 1999

Media enquiries should be directed to: Mr Paul Byrne Byrne & Byrne Corporate Communications Ph: (08) 9336 2081 Mb: 0417 922 452