Water bill blues: Aussies swim against rising costs as hope floats for concession holders
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As the cost of living continues to rise, many Australians are feeling the pinch, and the latest news on water bill hikes in one Aussie state has only added to the concern.
However, there's a silver lining for concession card holders, including pensioners and veterans, who will see some relief from these increases.
Understanding how these shifts impact different segments of the community is crucial as households adapt to evolving economic landscapes.
Starting from July 1, the South Australian government announced an increase in the concession for annual water and sewerage bills, averaging around $50 a year.
This measure is set to benefit approximately 190,000 eligible customers, providing some respite from the financial pressures of utility costs.
Despite this concession, it's important to note that it won't entirely cover the upcoming $80 price hike on the average annual water bill in SA, which is also set to take effect on the same day.
The price rise, which represents a 3.5 per cent increase above inflation or about $20 a quarter, is part of a plan to fund $1.5 billion in new mains water and sewerage connections to support the growth of Adelaide's suburbs.
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged that even with the increased concession, households will still find themselves worse off by about $8 a quarter.
However, he emphasised that the concession will cover more than half of the increase, which would ‘ameliorate that impact’ of the increased bills ‘on the most vulnerable’.
‘[The concession is] well more than half of it—$52 out of $81 means that, for most people, the increase is going to be a lot less than a dollar a week,’ he stated.
‘There is already a $360 concession in place on people's water bills at the moment, for concession card holders.’
‘We're increasing that to $412 to reflect the fact that [for] people on low and fixed incomes, like pensioners, the ability to be able to accommodate an increase is obviously far less,’ Premier Malinauskas added.
He also stated that the increased concession would be accessible to holders of Health Care cards, pensioners, and veterans.
‘People who are entitled to a typical concession card are eligible for the concession, but when you look at it numerically…the vast bulk are pensioners,’ he explained.
The government announced that starting July 1, household water bills would rise by 3.5 per cent above inflation, equating to approximately $20 more per quarter.
This increase aligned with a business proposal by SA Water submitted to the state's Essential Services Commission (ESCOSA) in late 2023.
The premier acknowledged on Wednesday, June 26, that this $80 increase was not fixed and could potentially rise further in the coming years.
However, he defended the hike as essential to funding infrastructure projects that would address the state's housing shortage.
‘We can't predict what CPI is going to be next year,’ Premier Malinauskas said.
‘We have to make these investments if we want to curtail the insane escalation we are seeing in rents and house prices.’
‘What people can't abide…is basically having 30 and 40-year-olds, who are couples, both in ostensibly middle-class jobs, and they can't afford a home,’ he continued.
Opposition Leader David Speirs criticised the higher water fees, labelling them as ‘unfair’.
‘[The Premier Peter Malinauskas] is reaching into South Australians' bank accounts and ripping out their hard-earned cash,’ he claimed.
‘Today's announcement of a changed concession model is barely any hope at all for the most vulnerable South Australians.’
‘There is no need for these water bills to go up, no need at all,’ Mr Speirs added.
As discussions about water bill increases and concessions continue to unfold, there's a growing focus on initiatives aimed at easing the financial strain on households.
Alongside these developments, recent announcements of cost-of-living payments have brought relief to many, highlighting the importance of checking eligibility to maximise support.
For seniors and concession card holders navigating these changes, understanding available benefits can make a significant difference in managing day-to-day expenses.
In these challenging times, every little bit helps, and staying informed about the available support can make a significant difference in managing your household expenses.
How have you been coping with the rising costs of utilities? Have you found any strategies that help you save on your bills? We encourage you to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers in the comments below.
However, there's a silver lining for concession card holders, including pensioners and veterans, who will see some relief from these increases.
Understanding how these shifts impact different segments of the community is crucial as households adapt to evolving economic landscapes.
Starting from July 1, the South Australian government announced an increase in the concession for annual water and sewerage bills, averaging around $50 a year.
This measure is set to benefit approximately 190,000 eligible customers, providing some respite from the financial pressures of utility costs.
The South Australian government announced water bill increases for households but will partially mitigate the rise for concession card holders, such as pensioners and veterans. Credit: Shutterstock
Despite this concession, it's important to note that it won't entirely cover the upcoming $80 price hike on the average annual water bill in SA, which is also set to take effect on the same day.
The price rise, which represents a 3.5 per cent increase above inflation or about $20 a quarter, is part of a plan to fund $1.5 billion in new mains water and sewerage connections to support the growth of Adelaide's suburbs.
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged that even with the increased concession, households will still find themselves worse off by about $8 a quarter.
However, he emphasised that the concession will cover more than half of the increase, which would ‘ameliorate that impact’ of the increased bills ‘on the most vulnerable’.
‘[The concession is] well more than half of it—$52 out of $81 means that, for most people, the increase is going to be a lot less than a dollar a week,’ he stated.
‘There is already a $360 concession in place on people's water bills at the moment, for concession card holders.’
‘We're increasing that to $412 to reflect the fact that [for] people on low and fixed incomes, like pensioners, the ability to be able to accommodate an increase is obviously far less,’ Premier Malinauskas added.
He also stated that the increased concession would be accessible to holders of Health Care cards, pensioners, and veterans.
‘People who are entitled to a typical concession card are eligible for the concession, but when you look at it numerically…the vast bulk are pensioners,’ he explained.
The government announced that starting July 1, household water bills would rise by 3.5 per cent above inflation, equating to approximately $20 more per quarter.
This increase aligned with a business proposal by SA Water submitted to the state's Essential Services Commission (ESCOSA) in late 2023.
The premier acknowledged on Wednesday, June 26, that this $80 increase was not fixed and could potentially rise further in the coming years.
However, he defended the hike as essential to funding infrastructure projects that would address the state's housing shortage.
‘We can't predict what CPI is going to be next year,’ Premier Malinauskas said.
‘We have to make these investments if we want to curtail the insane escalation we are seeing in rents and house prices.’
‘What people can't abide…is basically having 30 and 40-year-olds, who are couples, both in ostensibly middle-class jobs, and they can't afford a home,’ he continued.
Opposition Leader David Speirs criticised the higher water fees, labelling them as ‘unfair’.
‘[The Premier Peter Malinauskas] is reaching into South Australians' bank accounts and ripping out their hard-earned cash,’ he claimed.
‘Today's announcement of a changed concession model is barely any hope at all for the most vulnerable South Australians.’
‘There is no need for these water bills to go up, no need at all,’ Mr Speirs added.
As discussions about water bill increases and concessions continue to unfold, there's a growing focus on initiatives aimed at easing the financial strain on households.
Alongside these developments, recent announcements of cost-of-living payments have brought relief to many, highlighting the importance of checking eligibility to maximise support.
For seniors and concession card holders navigating these changes, understanding available benefits can make a significant difference in managing day-to-day expenses.
How have you been coping with the rising costs of utilities? Have you found any strategies that help you save on your bills? We encourage you to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers in the comments below.
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