Information for operatorsGuidesThe ACCC has released guides that provide information about the water market rules and the various water charge rules. The ACCC has also released a series of guidelines on specific aspects of the water market rules and water charge rules. The guidance materials on this page address the compliance requirements for operators under each set of rules. Please note that while these guides were developed to assist you to understand your obligations under the rules, they do not constitute legal advice. Water Market RulesThis technical guide provides compliance information to operators on the water market rules and information that may be useful for drafting water delivery contracts. A guide to the Water Market Rules 2009 and maintaining water delivery contracts Water Charge (Termination Fees) RulesThis technical guide provides operators with technical information on the water charge rules governing termination fees. A guide to the water charge (termination fees) rules Water Charge (Infrastructure) RulesThe ACCC has prepared a series of documents to assist operators with the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules. Publishing and non-discrimination requirements (Tier 1) Network service planning requirements (Tier 2) A guide to submitting a pricing application (Tier3) Guidelines on specific issuesThese guidelines provide operators with compliance information on specific aspects of the water market rules and water charge rules. |
Where can I find more information about these rules?The ACCC guides are not intended to subsitute reading the rules or obtaining legal advice. Copies of the rules and explanatory statements can be accessed through the link below. Water market rules and water charge rules Fair trading requirementsThe fair trading provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the CCA) and similar state / territory legislation state that businesses and individuals—including irrigation infrastructure operators—must not:
In some situations, the CCA also gives customers certain warranties about the quality of services offered by irrigation infrastrucutre operators. For more information on these situations and the fair trading requriments of the CCA see the 'for businesses' section of the ACCC website. Current projects and consultationsPeriodically the minister may request advice from the ACCC on amendments to the Water Act or the water market rules and water charge rules. In preparing this advice, the ACCC will seek public submissions from operators and other interested stakeholders. Click on the text below to see the current projects for which the ACCC is seeking public submissions. Current projects and consultations Water Rules MonitoringThe ACCC has responsibility for monitoring compliance of the water market rules and the water charge rules. This section sets out the monitoring arrangements for operators as well as providing the information generated through this process. ACCC policy advice on water market rules and water charge rulesUnder the Water Act, the ACCC was required to prepare advice for the minister (currently the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) on water market rules and water charge rules now in force. Further information on the ACCC's final advices to the minister can be accessed on the link below. Policy Development and Completed Projects Additional helpIf you need copies of the ACCC publications or require further help please contact the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or email: water@accc.gov.au |