About our Price Submission

Every five years, Victorian water corporations must submit a pricing proposal to the state’s independent economic regulator, the Essential Services Commission (ESC). This outlines our customers prices, our service standards and our planned capital investments. This proposal is referred to as the Price Submission. We’ve commenced working on our next Price Submission, for the period of 1 July 2028 to 30 June 2033.

Have your say on the future of your water services

Lower Murray Water customers are invited to have their say on the future of water and sewerage services.

There are a number of stages where we will invite our customers and community to help shape our Price Submission.

Urban Customer Engagement

Explore

Customers will have an early opportunity to share how their priorities, interests and concerns about our service have changed since the last Price Submission.

Valuate

Customers will be invited to weigh up prices, service levels and future options so we can understand what they are willing to pay to address our biggest challenges.

Deliberate

A small group of urban customers come together to give considered input on priorities and trade-offs. The panel is given clear information, time to discuss options together and the opportunity to provide informed advice.

Confirmation

We confirm with the deliberative panel where recommendations have been adopted, explain where they have not and settle the final outcomes and service commitments.

Exhibit

After completing the draft submission, we will invite customers and our community to provide feedback in preparation for our final Price Submission to the ESC.

Rural Customer Engagement

Explore

Customers will have an early opportunity to share how their priorities, interests and concerns about our services have changed since the last Price Submission.

Valuate

Customers will be invited to weigh up prices, service levels and future options so we can understand what they are willing to pay to address our biggest challenges.

Negotiate

Deep conversations with rural customer groups to understand preferences, range of acceptable solutions and how we can plan for the future while delivering resilient infrastructure and reliable services today.

Confirmation

We confirm that our plans for rural customers reflect the working groups’ recommendations. It also confirms with the wider customer base that these plans are clearly linked to customer views and preferences.

Exhibit

After completing the draft submission, we will invite customers and our community to provide feedback in preparation for our final Price Submission to the ESC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Every five years, Lower Murray Water is required to prepare a price submission that outlines:

  • The services we will provide
  • The improvements and investments we plan to make
  • The prices customers will pay for our services
  • Our commitment to customers and future readiness.

Once our final submission is completed, it is reviewed and approved by the ESC.

  • To maintain our water and sewerage systems to continue to deliver safe and reliable services to our customers.
  • To plan ahead for ageing infrastructure, climate change and growth in our communities.
  • To keep prices fair, transparent and affordable.
  • To make sure our customer only pay for efficient and necessary services

A Price Submission details the agreed service levels, investment needs, statutory obligations and pricing considerations.

To understand our customers and partners priorities, concerns and interests, we undertake extensive customer engagement. Engagement activities include surveying our customers, attending community markets, hosting focus group sessions and running a deliberative panel. We engage with a diverse range of our customers base including First Nations people, those who are in hardship, homeowners, renters, business owners, irrigators and developers.

A draft submission is then shared with our community for feedback before being finalised and submitted to the ESC.

There are a number of ways our customers and partners can get involved.

If you’re interested in being a part of a deliberative panel or focus group session, subscribe for PS28 updates.

If you’re interested in visiting us at a community pop up to have your say, follow our Facebook and Instagram page for upcoming events.

Our regulator, the ESC uses the PREMO framework, which puts customers first. The PREMO framework focuses on:

Performance – delivering what we promised

Risk – managing uncertainty to protect our customers

Engagement – listening to customer’s feedback

Management – strong planning and governance

Outcomes – what matters most to customers

Your feedback will help inform the level of service we deliver, your willingness to pay for those services, and how we measure our performance through the submission period.

We’re engaging with a diverse range of our community including:

  • Customers (homeowners, renters, irrigators, stock and domestic)
  • Community groups
  • Local councils
  • Traditional Owners and First Nations people
  • Government partners and agencies
  • Land developers
  • Businesses

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) will review our submission and conduct consultations, delivering a final determination before the next regulatory period starting on 1 July 2028.

Contact Us

If you would like further information, please contact [email protected] or call 1800 808 830.