Auckland’s water provider Watercare is warning water rates may need to increase by as much as 25 percent to run the business, while keeping to the council’s borrowing limit.<\/p>\n
Water charges increased by 9.5 percent last July, while infrastructure growth charges rose by 8 percent.<\/p>\n
This meant the average household paid about $2.20 more per week.<\/p>\n
In its recent newsletter, Watercare advised customers of a potential price rise of 25.8 percent from July.<\/p>\n
It said the rise was to “run our business while sticking to Auckland Council’s borrowing limit”.<\/p>\n
Watercare said if the proposed rise went ahead the average customer bill would increase by roughly $29 a month. That’s $348 annually.<\/p>\n
The potential increase was included in the consultation document for Auckland Council’s 10-year budget.<\/p>\n
In the document, council said the increase in rates was to support a significant increase in capital investment across the next 10 years.<\/p>\n
Watercare said the 25.8 percent rise could also apply to infrastructure growth charges.<\/p>\n
In a statement to RNZ, chair Margaret Devlin said the board had to balance the vital need to invest in new water and wastewater infrastructure with council’s directives to maintain a debt-to-revenue ratio of 340 percent, as well as ensuring growth funded growth.<\/p>\n
“We know many Aucklanders are struggling with the cost of living and we understand the news of this projected price rise will not be welcome,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We want to reassure them that central and local government want to avoid significant price rises for Auckland; and they are working together to achieve a financially sustainable water model.”<\/p>\n
Devlin said they understood the ongoing conversations between central government and council were positive.<\/p>\n
Watercare will give residents at least 10 days’ notice of a potential price rise.<\/p>\n
Source: RNZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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