Residential customers of East Gippsland Water will receive a $28 rebate on their water bills each year for the next four years as a result of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Fairer Water Bills initiative.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the savings would start from 1 July 2014.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to driving down the cost of living and our Fairer Water Bills initiative is delivering real savings for household budgets,” Mr Bull said.

“We asked water corporations to provide advice on potential productivity and efficiency gains within their businesses which could be adopted to help deliver lower household water bills.

“East Gippsland Water identified a number of capital cost and operational cost savings which will be delivered without compromising service standards or existing hardship protections that assist vulnerable customers.”

East Gippsland Water identified efficiencies such as: •    Reviewing the frequency of grounds maintenance at some sites to reduce maintenance costs, where possible; •    Utilising new and innovative technologies to reduce maintenance costs; •    Streamlining billing services; •    Collaborating with other water corporations to achieve cost reductions; and •    Prioritising staff attendance at conferences by closer analysis of cost/benefit

Minister for Water, Peter Walsh, said Fairer Water Bills was delivering lower household bills after Labor’s legacy of waste and mismanagement.

“I thank East Gippsland Water for working co-operatively with the Office of Living Victoria and with the independent review team, led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC, to save money for its customers,” Mr Walsh said.

East Gippsland Water Chairman, Joe Rettino, said that the savings would be delivered to both owner-occupiers and tenants who paid for water usage.

“We are committed to ensuring that our customers receive high quality, value-for-money services,” Mr Rettino said.