❓ Mr. Catania questions Water Corporation regarding water charges, restrictions, and hardship assistance for residential customers in Carnarvon. The Water Corporation provides data on costs, restrictions, payment plans, and legal actions, deferring questions about HUGS to the Minister for Community Services.
AnsweredQoN 5319Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 August 2019
Member
Portfolio
Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Water Corporation water charges on residential customers in the Carnarvon local government area, and I ask: (a) How many residential customers are connected to the Carnarvon scheme; (b) What is the average annual water charge costs for residential customers; (c) What is the highest annual cost to a residential customer in the area; (d) How many residential properties have had supply restrictions placed on them and what was/is the average length of restriction in: (i) 2016-17; (ii) 2017-18; and (iii) 2018 to date; (e) Of these properties how many have entered payment plans and what is the average length of payment plans in the above periods; (f) How many will remain on payment plans in 2019-20; (g) Describe any other concessions Water Corporation has offered to residential customers impacted by supply restrictions; (h) How many residential customers have been pursued through legal means over non-payment of bills; (i) In the local government area of Carnarvon how many customers have made an application to access the Hardship Utilities Grant Scheme (HUGS) to pay their water accounts in: (i) 2016-17; (ii) 2017-18; and (iii) 2018 to date; and (j) How many applicants received payments in each of the above periods and what was the average payment amount?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2019
Responded by
Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
Response time
13 days
(a) 1,955 as at June 2019
(b) In 2018-19, the average cost (water service and usage charges) per residential customer in the Carnarvon Town Water Scheme was $850.44.
(c) Highest annual cost (water service and usage bill) in 2018-19 was $13,226.86.
(d) Our system is unable to provide a verified answer on the length of the restriction. Our standard practice is 14 days for the length of a restriction: Numbers restricted were:
(i) 2016-17 12
(ii) 2017-18 4
(iii) 2018 to date 4
(e)
(i) 8 payment plans for an average of 61 days
(ii) 1 payment plans for an average of 14 days
(iii) 2 payment plans for an average of 34 days
(f) None.
(g) The Water Corporation has hardship programs in place to assist residential customers to pay their bills. These include the Water Assist and Start Over programs.
(h) In 2016/17 under the former Liberal National government there were 4. There have been no customers pursued through legal means since that time.
(i) – (iii) This component of the question should be directed to the Minister for Community Services.
(j) This component of the question should be directed to the Minister for Community Services.
(b) In 2018-19, the average cost (water service and usage charges) per residential customer in the Carnarvon Town Water Scheme was $850.44.
(c) Highest annual cost (water service and usage bill) in 2018-19 was $13,226.86.
(d) Our system is unable to provide a verified answer on the length of the restriction. Our standard practice is 14 days for the length of a restriction: Numbers restricted were:
(i) 2016-17 12
(ii) 2017-18 4
(iii) 2018 to date 4
(e)
(i) 8 payment plans for an average of 61 days
(ii) 1 payment plans for an average of 14 days
(iii) 2 payment plans for an average of 34 days
(f) None.
(g) The Water Corporation has hardship programs in place to assist residential customers to pay their bills. These include the Water Assist and Start Over programs.
(h) In 2016/17 under the former Liberal National government there were 4. There have been no customers pursued through legal means since that time.
(i) – (iii) This component of the question should be directed to the Minister for Community Services.
(j) This component of the question should be directed to the Minister for Community Services.
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