Metering
Water Reform Action Plan
As part of the NSW Government’s Water Reform Action Plan, our department is committed to implementing a robust metering framework.
The NSW Government is committed to implementing a robust new metering framework to measure and meter water take in NSW.
The new framework is a commitment under the NSW Government’s Water Reform Action Plan.
For further information on the metering policy and regulation please go to NSW water metering framework.
Do I need a water meter?
Your water licence or water supply work approval may require you to measure the volume of water you take using a meter. If required, your licence or approval will specify the metering standards you must comply with.
You may also choose to use a meter to be eligible to be billed under the two-part tariff for your water management charges.
Water management charges
Water management charges are levied on water access licences to recover part of the cost of water management services provided by our department and WaterNSW.
These charges are set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). For information, go to https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au
The way these charges are billed depends on whether the water taken is metered.
One-part tariff
The one-part tariff applies to water access licences which nominate a water supply work which is not metered for all or part of the billing period.
The one-part tariff comprises:
- water entitlement charge, which is calculated based on the quantity of share component of a water access licence multiplied by the one-part tariff entitlement charge rate for the river valley or groundwater area.
As the volume of water taken is not metered, the one-part tariff assumes the full water allocation credited to the water access licence is taken.
Two-part tariff
The two-part tariff applies to water access licences which nominate a water supply work which is metered for all of the billing period.
The two-part tariff comprises:
- water entitlement charge, which is calculated based on the quantity of share component of a water access licence multiplied by the two-part tariff entitlement charge rate for the river valley or groundwater area, and
- water take charge, which is calculated based on the volume of water which was taken under the water access licence multiplied by the two-part tariff usage charge rate for the river valley or groundwater area, and
- metering charge.
The water entitlement charge and water take charge under the two-part tariff is less than the water entitlement charge under the one-part tariff. This means the two-part tariff is more cost-effective than the one-part tariff, particularly if you do not use your full water allocation.
WaterNSW provides customer services for billing. If you install a meter, you can apply to WaterNSW be billed under the two-part tariff.
Governance
Our department is responsible for managing legislation and policies relevant to metering.
WaterNSW provides customer services for metering.
For information, go to WaterNSW’s website.
Compliance
The NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is responsible for compliance and enforcement of NSW water law including meter requirements.
It is an offence to:
- fail to comply with conditions on your water licence or approval which require you to install and use a meter
- fail to install metering equipment when required
- fail to ensure the proper operation of any installed metering equipment
- take water from a metered water supply work if the meter is not working properly
- interfere with, damage, destroy or disconnect any metering equipment
- fail to keep required metering records.
For information, go to Compliance.
What should I do if my meter is not working properly?
If your meter is not working properly and you need to take water, contact WaterNSW.
Water meter policies
National standards
National standards for water meters have been developed under the National Water Initiative. The national standards apply to non-urban meters that are installed after 1 July 2010. Key requirements of the national standards are that meters must be:
- pattern approved by the National Measurement Institute - where pattern approval is available
- installed in accordance with ATS 4747 of Standards Australian.
For information, go to the Australian Government National framework for non-urban metering policy paper.
NSW interim standards
The NSW Interim Water Meter Standards set criteria for the supply and installation of water meters until pattern approved meters are readily available.
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