Urban retail water pricing 2027–28

On 24 September 2025, the Queensland Government directed us to conduct a price monitoring investigation into the monopoly The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) will undertake an independent review of urban retail water prices for 2027–28. This process will assess the prudent and efficient costs of supplying water and sewerage services and provide transparent pricing guidance to support sustainable service delivery for Queensland communities.

Our role is to ensure pricing approaches are consistent with the long‑term interests of customers while allowing service providers to recover efficient costs. The review will consider operating expenditure, capital programs, demand forecasts, and service standards.

Purpose of the review

• Provide an independent assessment of the efficient costs of delivering urban retail water services in 2027–28.
• Promote transparency in pricing decisions and support customer understanding of price drivers.
• Ensure pricing approaches align with the QCA’s regulatory principles, including cost‑reflectivity, efficiency, and fairness.
• Support long‑term financial sustainability for water service providers.

What we will consider

• Forecast operating and capital expenditure
• Demand projections and consumption trends
• Asset management and renewal strategies
• Service quality and reliability
• Customer engagement outcomes
• Any relevant government directions or policy settings

Timeline for the 2027–28 review

The timeline below outlines the key stages of the QCA’s process. Dates are indicative and may be updated as the review progresses.

Late 2026 — Review commencement

We will formally begin the review and publish an initial information request to water service providers. This will include guidance on data requirements, financial information, and service performance metrics.

January–March 2027 — Data collection and analysis

Service providers will submit financial, operational, and demand information. The QCA will assess the prudency and efficiency of proposed expenditure and review pricing methodologies.

April 2027 — Draft report released

We will publish a draft report outlining preliminary findings and proposed pricing guidance for 2027–28. Stakeholders will be invited to provide submissions.

April–May 2027 — Consultation period

Customers, service providers, and community groups will have the opportunity to comment on the draft report. We will consider all submissions before finalising our recommendations.

June 2027 — Final report published

The QCA will release the final report, including pricing guidance for the 2027–28 year. This will support service providers in setting prices that reflect efficient costs and meet regulatory requirements.

July 2027 — Pricing implementation

Service providers will apply the pricing guidance as part of their annual price-setting processes for the 2027–28 period.

Have your say

The QCA is committed to transparent and inclusive consultation. Stakeholders will be able to provide submissions during the draft report stage. Details on how to participate will be published when the draft report is released.

Stay informed

We will update this page as the review progresses. To receive notifications about new publications, consultation opportunities, and key milestones, you can subscribe to QCA alerts.