What guides our fees and charges?
We will set drinking water and wastewater charges in line with our Water Services Strategy and Fees and Charges Policy.
Together, these documents explain why prices change, how pricing decisions are made, and what this means for customers over time.
The Water Services Strategy will set the big‑picture direction. It explains the services we’re responsible for, the investment needed to keep water safe and reliable, and how costs are shared fairly between today’s customers and future generations. It also shows how we balance important factors like public health, service reliability, affordability, and growth when decisions are made.
The Fees and Charges Policy will explain how pricing works in practice. It sets out the principles we use, how different charges are applied, and will include our detailed Fees and Charges Schedule for the year ahead. This policy helps make pricing clear, consistent, and transparent.
We are also required to operate within New Zealand’s economic regulation framework for water services, overseen by the Commerce Commission. This means Selwyn Water must be transparent about how prices are set, how revenue is used, and how decisions support efficient investment and long‑term outcomes for consumers.
Community engagement
We will be asking for your feedback in May on our draft Water Services Strategy and Fees and Charges Policy. This is your opportunity to tell us what matters to you when it comes to water pricing, affordability, and how water services are funded now and into the future.
As a new water services provider, Selwyn Water is taking a step‑by‑step approach. In the short term, pricing largely reflects existing arrangements to provide stability during our transition. Over time, we’ll continue to review and update pricing, informed by community feedback, better information about asset condition and service needs, and regulatory requirements. This will support more informed decisions about where and when investment is needed to best serve the community.
We’re committed to clearly explaining any changes to charges - including why they’re needed and how affordability has been considered - so you understand what’s changing and why.
We will be reviewing our Water Services Strategy and pricing again in 2027 to align with the Council's next Long-Term Plan.