South Australian Water Pricing Inquiry
An independent inquiry into water pricing in South Australia was undertaken in 2018-19.
The inquiry provided advice to the government on whether the amounts SA Water is permitted to raise from its drinking water retail service reflects the cost of providing these services. The inquiry did not cover wastewater (sewerage) services.
The inquiry concluded on 30 June 2019.
- Report One: Exploratory Essay - August 2018 (PDF 0.8MB)
- Report Two: Diving Deeper - September 2018 (PDF 0.7MB)
- Report Three: Cautious Conclusion - December 2018 (PDF 8.9MB)
- Submissions received:
- Livestock SA (PDF 6.5MB)
- Business SA (PDF 2.1MB)
- CME (PDF 0.2MB)
- Coorong Water Security Advisory Group (PDF 3.2MB)
- SACOSS Water Pricing Inquiry (PDF 0.2MB)
- Uniting Communities (PDF 0.6MB)
- SAFCA (PDF 0.2MB)
- SA Water (PDF 4.7MB)
- SACOSS (PDF 0.4MB)
- SAFRRA (PDF 0.6MB)
- Coorong Water Security Advisory Group (PDF 0.2MB)
- Water Pricing Inquiry Stakeholder Workshop (PDF 1.1MB)
- Report Four: A Balanced Bargain - May 2019 (PDF 5.7MB)
- Submissions received:
- SA Water (PDF 0.1MB)
- Business SA (PDF 1MB)
- Uniting Communities (PDF 0.8MB)
- Livestock SA (PDF 0.4MB)
- SAFRRA (PDF 0.3MB)
- Coorong Water Security Advisory Group (PDF 0.8MB)
- Coorong Water Security Advisory Group presentation (PDF 2.2MB)
- 24 May 2019 workshop slides (PDF 2.7MB)
- Abridged Advice - Final Report of the SA Inquiry Into Water Prices - July 2019 (PDF 16.7MB)
Lew Owens was appointed as the independent inquirer for the SA Water Pricing Inquiry in August 2018.
Mr Owens is a former Chief of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia and former Chair of the Board of SA Water. He was previously CEO of WorkCover Corporation, Funds SA, and ETSA Utilities, and Chairperson of Country Arts SA and the National Trust of SA.
Mr Owens has more than 30 years' experience in Australian water and energy utilities across the public sector and holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Arts, and a Master of Science degree.
This inquiry concluded on 30 June 2019.