ESCOSA content iconReview of the small-scale water and sewerage regulatory framework

  • Project Released: 16 Apr 2025
  • Project Closes: Jul 2026
  • Contact: Rowan McKeown | Mark Caputo

Overview

The Commission is reviewing the regulatory framework that applies to minor and intermediate (or ‘small-scale’) water and sewerage retailers. 

Small-scale retailers are those with 50,000 or fewer connections. They offer drinking water, non-drinking water, sewerage, and/or Community Wastewater Management System services. 

Approximately 110,000 customers in South Australia receive water or sewerage retail services from 71 small-scale retailers.

The current regulatory framework is comprised of the Water Retail Code – Minor and Intermediate Retailers, a price determination, a licencing regime and reporting requirements.  

The review will focus on the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework in protecting the long-term interests of South Australian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of water retail services. 

 

Status

Current status is Initiate

  • Initiate
  • Submissions
  • Draft
  • Submissions
  • Final

Initiate

The Commission will soon begin a review of the regulatory framework that applies to minor and intermediate (or ‘small-scale’) water and sewerage retailers. 

The Commission will publish an Issues Paper in mid-2025 for public consultation.  The review will seek input from: 

  • customers and consumers of small-scale retailer services 
  • small-scale water and sewerage retailers
  • industry and consumer groups, and 
  • Government stakeholders. 

There will be opportunities for engagement online and in-person in regional areas and metropolitan Adelaide. More information about engagement will be published in mid-2025.  

 

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