Regulatory Framework
The Water and Sewerage Economic Regulator is responsible for implementing and administering the water and sewerage regulatory framework, in accordance with the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 and its subordinate legislation.
The regulatory framework includes:
- the licensing regime;
- customer service framework;
- price regulation;
- regulatory compliance monitoring;
- performance monitoring and reporting;
- complaints handling and dispute resolution;
- interim licensing and pricing arrangements; and
- miscellaneous issues such as asset management, metering and other regulatory matters.
In carrying out its functions, the Regulator must have regard to the objective of the legislation, which is to protect the long-term interests of customers and to provide for the safe, environmentally responsible, efficient and sustainable provision of reliable and secure water services and sewerage services to the Tasmanian community.
The Regulator will ensure close and ongoing consultation with the Director of the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority and the Director of Public Health in the development of the regulatory framework so to avoid regulatory duplication between economic, environmental and public health regulation.
In accordance with the Industry Act, the Regulator is responsible for:
- developing and issuing licences;
- developing and issuing codes;
- developing and issuing guidelines;
- coordinating and drafting the annual State of the Industry Report (by 1 April each year);
- undertaking price investigations and making price determinations (first to apply from 1 July 2012);
- providing input, as requested, into interim pricing arrangements;
- providing input, as requested, into regulatory policy issues; and
- conducting other inquiries as requested by the Minister.
The Industry Act provides penalty arrangements where licensed providers of water and sewerage services fail to comply with the Act or an order made by the Regulator in accordance with the Act.
For further details of the responsibilities and functions of the Regulator, please refer to the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008. |