Lower Murray Water: Decisions under Part 6 of the Water Charge Rules 2010

On 13 April 2022, the ACCC formed the view that the Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation, trading as Lower Murray Water (LMW), will cease to be a Part 6 operator under rule 23 of the Water Charge Rules 2010 (WCR) after 30 June 2023. This is because the ACCC considers that LMW will be required to have all its infrastructure charges determined or approved by a single State Agency under a law of the State in a way that is consistent with subrule 29(2)(b) of the WCR after the end of LMW’s regulatory period on 30 June 2023.

The ACCC decision means that the Victorian Essential Services Commission (ESCV) will continue to regulate LMW’s infrastructure charges after the end of LMW’s regulatory period but will do so under Victorian law and will no longer require an exemption under the WCR to do so.