Your water account explained
The new-look Water Account is designed to make it easier to see the basic information but it also gives you new facts and figures that will help you to manage and reduce your water usage.
From 1 July 2008 we’re putting all water and sewer charges in one place, on the water account. This step enables customers to more easily see the net cost of these services. Having the charges on a single account is recommended by National and NSW Government pricing guidelines. Read more about this strategy and FAQs below.
Why a new-look account?
The new water accounts have come about as part of a National Water Initiative that seeks to help Australians in their efforts to save water by giving them more information on their Water Accounts so they can monitor and manage their consumption.
This is why we have made it easy for you to compare your water consumption to that of other, similar households and also introduced the option of setting a Personal Target to help you monitor your own usage.
In 2008/9 we will be making it even easier for Shoalhaven residents to see exactly what their water and sewerage services cost by showing the fixed “availability” charges and quarterly “usage” charges on the same account. These have traditionally been split between your general rates account and your water account. By combining them you will be able to see the true cost of supplying these vital services to your homeFront page
Quick facts |
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| A | How much to pay, when to pay and your assessment number |
| B | Information for Bpay payments eg reference number. |
Detailed Information |
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| C | Account Summary – your property details, amount due and the supply period |
| D | Your average water consumption – compare your current daily usage with the same time last year and against your last account. You can see if it has gone up, down or stayed the same. Next to that you can see your daily usage compared with the average in your local area and (if you have one) compared to your personal target (see F for more details). |
| E | Your average water consumption – this table allows you to compare your water use with that of similar households. You can see what a household of your size would typically use and also what the ideal efficient usage should be. By comparing this to your daily average (highlighted in yellow) you can see if there is room for improvement. For more information on comparing your water consumption Click here |
| F | Your personal target – If you discover that you are using more than a typical household or a water-efficient household then you can set a personal target to help you reduce your water use. Each time you receive your water account you can instantly see how close you are getting to your target. For more information about your personal target Click here |
Back page
| G | This is where you can find details of meter readings, number of kilolitres used, rebates and how your account is calculated. You can see your individual quarterly usage and the fixed charges for water and sewerage services. |
Additional information
Your Personal Target
Recent studies done in Melbourne have proved that setting a personal water usage target is one of the most effective ways to help people reduce their consumption and save water. It’s an instant reminder on every bill of how effective your water-saving activities are.
If you discover, by comparing your usage to the averages for your local area (which also appear on the new Water Account), that you are using more than a typical household or a water-efficient household then you can set a personal target to help you reduce your water use.
Your target is shown on your bill in litres per day and is compared against your actual daily consumption. Each time you receive your water account you can instantly see how close you are getting to your target.
Setting your Personal Target
To set a personal target or to make a change to it, contact Shoalhaven Water direct on 02 4429 3214 and we’ll help you get started.
Compare your water usage
The feedback from Shoalhaven residents and from around Australia has been that people would find it useful to see how their water usage compares to everyone else’s. It’s good to be able to see whether your personal consumption is going up or down each quarter but finding out whether you’re a low, average or high water user compared to others gives you a good benchmark for the future.
Your new bill shows two different comparisons:
- Your local area average (see label D on the “Your Water Account” page). This figure is the average number of litres per day used across all households in your immediate local area for that billing period. It is a general guide as this average is made up of all households, large and small.
- Similar households compared (see label E on the “Your Water Account” page). This figure is more specific to the size of household. You can compare your usage with that of a similar sized household with the same number of people and the same sized garden. This comparison also shows you what a typical household usage is and what a water efficient household usage should be so you get a better idea of what you need to aim for when you are setting your Personal Target.
Combining usage and availability charges together
Why has our account increased?
Moving the water and sewer availability charges onto the Water Account is a strategy consistent with ‘Best Practice’ to enable customers to see, on a single account, all the charges for providing these services. This is consistent with the other ‘utility’ providers where fixed and usage charges are combined to show the real cost of providing ‘utility’ services.
Shoalhaven Water has been moving toward this facility since mid 2007 commencing with the new Water Account.
Customers will not be paying more because of this change, rather the Rates and Charges Notice (current location of the availability charges) will reduce by the corresponding amount. Customers with vacant blocks of land or strata properties and who currently pay water or sewer availability charges, do not currently receive a Water Account. However, from July 2008, these customers will now receive a Water Account each quarter with only the availability charges.
Eligible pensioners have until the end of May each year to pay their Rates and Charges before interest is applied. This interest-free period has now been extended to all Water Account charges. Noting that Water Accounts are issued at differing times throughout each quarter and in some cases after May of each year, eligible pensioners will be afforded 365 days interest free, from the date of each invoice, to pay their Water Accounts. If payment in full is not made at day 366, interest will be applied in the same terms as currently applies to Rates and Charges.
In the near future, customers who have a rental property will have the opportunity to ‘split’ the water usage component of the Water Account off to the property address. More information and an application on the option is provided at Rental PropertiesQ Will I be paying more because of this change?
A No. The charges will just be shown on one account instead of two.
Q Will my rates account change?
A Yes. Your council rates account will come down by the amount of the water and sewer availability charge
Q Will other Council services such as libraries and parks have less money allocated because of this change?
A No.
Q Will I still get my pensioner rebate?
A Yes. Any rebate that you’re already entitled to will stay the same , only it will all be combined within the Water Account against each charge. See Pensioner Rebates for more information on the rebates.
Q Do I need to organise a new direct debit?
A No. For customers with existing direct debit arrangements these remain active. Of course you’ll still need to make sure funds are available in your account
Q Do I need to do anything else?
A No. The new simplified system is already being implemented - no further action is required