[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Water price up, but still little incentive to save

[Parnell]

Media Release
Thursday 4th December, 2008

Water price up, but still little incentive to save	
 

The water price rises announced today will do little to reduce water
consumption and help South Australia to become water secure, says Greens
MLC Mark Parnell.

"Over the last couple of years the Government has slugged those who use
the least amount of water with the greatest increase in price.  Surely
we should be rewarding those who use less?" said Greens MLC Mark
Parnell.

In 2007/08 there was a two-tier pricing structure:

$.50/kL for water use from 0-125kL

$1.16/kL for water use above 125kL  


Which was increased for 2008/09 to:

$0.71/kL for water use from 0-120kL

$1.38/kL for water use from 120-520kL

$1.65/kL for water use from above 520kL


And released today was the following further price increase:

$0.97/kL for water use from 0-120kL

$1.88/kL for water use from 120-520kL

$2.26/kL for water use from above 520kL

"Since 2007, the price of water has gone up 94% for those using less
than 125kL/year, and 62% for those using more than 125kL.  Water pricing
should be used to encourage people to become water wise, but the bigger
increase for those who use the least water sends completely the wrong
message," he said.

Last week in State Parliament, Mark Parnell moved a motion calling for
changes to the water pricing structure by increasing the volumetric
costs and reducing other charges to provide more incentive for water
users to reduce their demand.

"While strongly welcoming the slight reduction in the fixed supply
charge, the mis-match between the cost of the supply charge and the cost
of water is still too great.   At the moment, a household who strives
hard to save water will still see little benefit in their final bill,"
Mr Parnell said.   

 
	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful."