Small-scale water and sewerage retail review

Tell us about your experience as a customer or consumer of a small-scale water and/or sewerage retailer.

What's being decided?

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (the Commission) is reviewing the regulatory framework that applies to small-scale water and sewerage retailers in South Australia. Input from customers and consumers will help us identify issues and make improvements.

Background

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 a consumer protection code, a price determination, a licencing regime, reporting requirements and a compliance and enforcement regime.

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.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

The Commission will consider all feedback on matters related to the small-scale water and sewerage regulatory framework. A further consultation opportunity will be provided following the release of a draft decision.

Tell us about your experience as a customer or consumer of a small-scale water and/or sewerage retailer.

What's being decided?

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (the Commission) is reviewing the regulatory framework that applies to small-scale water and sewerage retailers in South Australia. Input from customers and consumers will help us identify issues and make improvements.

Background

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 a consumer protection code, a price determination, a licencing regime, reporting requirements and a compliance and enforcement regime.

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.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

The Commission will consider all feedback on matters related to the small-scale water and sewerage regulatory framework. A further consultation opportunity will be provided following the release of a draft decision.

Page last updated: 27 Aug 2025, 04:21 PM