Development of pricing principles for price approvals and determinations under the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules

The Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules (WCIR) provide for price approvals and determinations of certain rural water infrastructure operators in the Murray-Darling Basin by either the ACCC or a state agency accredited by the ACCC. These price approvals and determinations will apply to charges for many non-urban water services provided by State Water Corporation of New South Wales, Goulburn-Murray Water and Lower Murray Water. Other operators may be conditionally covered by Part 7 of the WCIR.

The principles outline the ACCC's approach to making price approvals and determinations under the WCIR.The ACCC is proposing that, as a term and condition of acreditation, state agencies will also be required to apply the principles.

In developing these principles the ACCC issued draft pricing principles for public consultation on 17 Janruary 2011. Five submissions were received in response.