Prices and charges for business
Usage Charges for 2022-23
If your water usage in 2022-23 is similar to last year, your bills will remain stable. While some prices have come down and others have gone up slightly, overall you’re paying a similar amount for your services this year. If you're a business owner and pay trade waste charges, these have increased in line with inflation.
With stable bills, we’re still investing in the future to deliver major projects that extend the life and efficiency of the networks that keep your services running
With stable bills, we’re still investing in the future to deliver major projects that extend the life and efficiency of the networks that keep your services running
What your bill pays for
A general guide, based on the average bill for 2018-2023.
51%
Water services
Buying water from Melbourne Water; sampling it; and maintaining, upgrading and building new water infrastructure.
45%
Sewer services
Taking, treating and reusing sewage (including use of Melbourne Water plants); maintaining, upgrading and building new sewerage infrastructure.
4%
Other
An annual environment contribution paid to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DEWLP), to support sustainable water management initiatives.
| Non-residential charges | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Water service charge | ||
| per annum | $83.72 | $93.12 |
| per quarter | $20.93 | $23.28 |
| Sewerage service charge | ||
| per annum | $436.72 | $432.84 |
| per quarter | $109.18 | $108.21 |
| Water usage charge | $3.4660 per kilolitre |
$3.4307 per kilolitre |
| Sewage disposal charge | $1.7860 per kilolitre | $1.6803 per kilolitre |
Our charges and what your bill pays for
Most of what we do you’ll never see, much like the plumbing in your home or business. Here’s how we use the money you pay on your bill to provide reliable water and sewerage supplies for every customer.
This charge covers the amount of water used at your property, which is recorded by your water meter. We bill this per kilolitre (kl) of water used.
This charge covers the amount of water used at your property, which is recorded by your water meter. We bill this per kilolitre (kl) of water used.
This charge covers the amount of water used at your property, which is recorded by your water meter. We bill this per kilolitre (kl) of water used.
This charge covers the operational and maintenance costs associated with increased demand on the water network in the event of a fire at properties with a fire service.
Other authorities' charges
Waterways and drainage charge
The waterways and drainage charge helps protect and improve the health of our waterways. It also protects us from floods. South East Water collects this charge on behalf of Melbourne Water. In 2022-23, the minimum quarterly charge for non-residential customers is $41.19 per quarter. For more information, visit Melbourne Water’s website or contact them on 131 722.
Parks charge
The parks charge is used by Parks Victoria to maintain places we all enjoy, like Arthurs Seat, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, Lysterfield Park, Cardinia Park Reservoir and the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Property owners contribute towards this annual charge, which appears on your July, August or September bill. In 2022, the minimum charge for businesses is $81.60. For more information about the parks charge, visit Parks Victoria's website.
Trade waste charges
Trade waste application
Fee $62.00 - Each new trade waste customer is charged with a one-off fee to cover the initial costs of processing a trade waste application.
Trade waste consent
This is an annual charge which covers the cost of administering and monitoring trade waste consents. The level of the charge is based on a customer's risk ranking, based on their business activities, trade waste volume and quality, their history and their location in relation to a sewage treatment plant. This is an annual charge which covers the cost of administering and monitoring trade waste agreements. The level of the charge is based on a customer's risk ranking, based on their business activities, trade waste volume and quality, their history and their location in relation to a sewage treatment plant.
| Risk rank | Price from 1 July 2022 |
| 1 | $15,999.00 |
| 2 | $7,999.48 |
| 3 | $5,332.92 |
| 4 | $2,666.44 |
| 5 | $465.04 |
Volumetric and quality charges
For customers whose trade waste exceeds any one of the following parameters, these volumetric and quality charges will apply.
- Volume greater than 1,000 kL/year
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand greater than 600 mg/L
- Suspended solids greater than 600 mg/L
- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen greater than 50 mg/L
| Volume and quality charges | |
| Volume | $1.0433/kL |
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand | $1.0312/kg |
| Suspended solids | $0.5782/kg |
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (greater then 50mg/L) |
$2.2656/kg |
Pricing and charges handbook
Read our pricing handbook that provides a list of South East Water’s prices and charges that recover the costs of delivering the services our customers value.