October 29, 2021
More than $3.13 million will be returned to growers in regional Queensland as part of a Sunwater trial related to water delivery services – but Barker Barambah participants in the trial will miss out on any refunds.
That’s because Sunwater says it spent more on electricity in the trial than it recouped from the Barker Barambah growers.
Water Minister Glenn Butcher said electricity rebates have already begun being provided to irrigators following the first 12 months of a three-year electricity cost pass‐through trial – developed in conjunction with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
“Each year irrigation customers pay regulated water charges set by the Queensland Government that include estimated electricity costs,” Minister Butcher said.
“At the end of each financial year, Sunwater finalises its actual electricity accounts and customer water usage.
“Through the trial, Sunwater calculated how much customers paid for electricity during the year and compared this to actual electricity costs.
“Where Sunwater spent less on electricity than it recouped from customers, those customers will receive a credit on their first quarter bills in the following financial year.”
The trial covered 1331 irrigation customers in the Bundaberg, Burdekin Haughton, Lower Mary River, Mareeba-Dimbulah, Barker Barambah and Upper Condamine water supply schemes.
However, irrigation customers in the Upper Condamine and Barker Barambah scheme trials will experience no change in their bills as Sunwater spent more on electricity than it recouped.
However, no debits would be applied to their bills so nobody participating in the trial was worse off.
