North-east Victorian households will be hit with a nearly 10% increase in water and sewerage bills in the new financial year.
And bills are expected to go up by 27% over five years after the Essential Services Commission (ESC) released its final decision on how much North East Water can charge customers.
The price determination was released today (June 5) and will affect about 120,000 people in 39 towns: North East Water’s service area includes Wodonga and Wangaratta and is bound by Corryong, Yarrawonga, Benalla and Dartmouth.
The ESC says household water and sewerage bills for homeowners will increase by 9.9% (about $109) for 2026-27, including 4.1% inflation; in 2027-28, prices will rise by 5.4% (or $70) excluding inflation.
This will see the total annual bill for homeowners rise from $1097 to $1205 for 2026-27.
This equates to a total increase of around 27% before inflation over five years, it says.
RURAL VICTORIAN PAIN
The ESC says the bill for the rural Victorian renters will increase by around 6.3% (or $32) in 2026-27 then rise by around 1.8% ($10) on average from 2027-28.
The annual bill for renters will rise from $509 to $541 in 2026-27, it says.
Commission chairperson Gerard Brody says North East Water will double its financial support for customers and improve access to it.
“The final prices balance North East Water’s need to invest in infrastructure that delivers safe, clean drinking water while making sure customers are not asked to pay more than is needed,” he says.
“North East Water will double the financial support available through its customer support program, improve access to support and strengthen protections for customers experiencing financial hardship or family violence.”
The ESC says its decision will allow North East Water to spend $280 million on drinking water supply and sewerage treatment for its Victorian customers.
For 2026-27, the funding will go towards upgrading water and sewerage infrastructure, improving sewerage treatment plants in West Wodonga, Beechworth, Bright and Rutherglen and building infrastructure for growth areas.
MELBOURNE METRO
The ESC also approved a $4.1% increase for Melbourne Water bills as of July 1 to allow it to spend $10 billion over five years.
Homeowner bills are set to increase in 2026-27 from $62 for Yarra Valley Water customers to $92 for Great Western Water households.
It says its decision will allow Melbourne Water to recover costs from new large-scale commercial and industrial consumers such as data centres.
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