Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-25 Daily Xml

Contents

WATER BILLING

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, representing the Minister for Water Security, a question regarding SA Water's billing procedures.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: Following public concerns regarding the new charges for water usage, which were applied to water bills issued from 1 July 2008, the government suggested that a new quarterly billing system for water usage would be implemented. In a letter to ratepayers accompanying ex gratia payments for overpayment of water rates, SA Water advised that it has recently started quarterly meter readings. My questions are:

1. What is the estimated cost of changing the frequency of water meter readings from half-yearly to quarterly?

2. Did the government consider a minor software programming amendment that would enable quarterly billing of water charges based on half-yearly water meter readings, and what would this have cost?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his question. I will refer it to my colleague in another place and bring back a reply.