Following Unitywater’s recent pricing restructure, a range of customers are seeing massive benefits when billing time arrives.
Best Western Caboolture has experienced a 69 per cent reduction in its sewerage and water bill, equating to a saving of an estimated $27,000 annually.
It is one of more than 4500 non-residential customers in Moreton Bay to have transferred to Unitywater’s new, standardised billing structure.
Best Western Caboolture owner, Greg Linn, said Unitywater’s pricing changes had “really helped them out” as it was becoming “too hard” to run a business in the current economic climate.
“It’s a relief to get some savings out of the new structure. We are impressed and very happy,” Mr Linn said.
“We have visitors from overseas and now, with these savings, we can keep our motel updated and keep improving it.”
Mr Linn plans to use some of the savings from the newly-reduced sewerage and water bill to refurbish and refresh the 20-room motel.
Unitywater Executive Manager Retail Services, Judy Bailey was thrilled with the outcome.
“I am really delighted for this motel in Caboolture,” Ms Bailey said. “It is great to know they will be able to keep the motel at a high standard and reinvest these savings back into their business to keep overseas, interstate and local visitors coming to beautiful Moreton Bay.”
Unitywater inherited hundreds of different fees and charges from the six former councils when it was formed in 2010.
Since 2013, Unitywater has been gradually implementing a new pricing structure to streamline these charges.
The aim is to give customers more control over their bills, with a greater emphasis on user pays. The changes for customers like Best Western Caboolture include the scrapping of pedestal charges, fixed access charges based on the number and size of water meters on the property and a single tier for water usage.
Unitywater’s residential customers, sporting and community groups and retirement villages as well as businesses, schools, childcare centres and non-government organisations have all transferred to the new structure.
