Australian Capital Territory

Utilities (Water and Sewerage Capital Contribution Code) Approval 2017

Disallowable Instrument DI2017-291

made under the

Utilities Act 2000, section 58 (approved codes)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Under the Utilities Act 2000 (Act) a utility may impose capital contribution charges on customers to extend the utility’s network to undeveloped land or to vary the capacity of connections to its network. The charge must be in accordance with the relevant industry code of practice.

In March 2017, Icon Water submitted a proposed industry code, the Water and Sewerage Capital Contribution Code (Code) to the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (Commission) for consideration, enacting section 57 of the Act.

The Code sets out the framework by which a utility may require a customer to contribute towards the development or augmentation of the water network or sewerage network, in connection with a development. The Code describes the situations where a utility may charge, and a customer must pay, a capital contribution charge for a development within a defined precinct. It also outlines how that charge will be calculated.

The Commission is satisfied that all requirements for approving an industry code under section 58 of the Act have been met.