General overview

We understand the charges on your bill can seem complex and difficult to understand, so to help, the explanation below details the typical charges on residential bills and how to calculate them to get your total due.

On a typical residential bill, there are two types of charges:

  • Fixed service charges (calculated on a per day basis), and
  • Variable usage charges (calculated on a per kilolitre basis).

All residential charges are billed in arrears and, from Friday 1st October 2021, calculated on a per-dwelling basis.

Are you seeing multiple charges on your latest bill?

Prices on your water and sewerage services increased on the 1st July 2023. We want to make sure that services you used before this period are charged at last financial year’s prices, so we’ve split them into separate items on your latest bill. Find out more via our fact sheet.

 

Water Service charge – applies to properties connected to our water network of pipes, pumps and reservoirs and helps pay for new infrastructure, operating and maintaining the water network and the fire-fighting capacity the network provides.

As displayed on your bill, the calculation of the Water Service charge is as follows:

Daily Price x Days Charged x Dwelling Count = Water Service charge

Sewerage Service charge - applies to properties connected to our sewers and helps to pay for the maintenance and operation of the infrastructure needed to collect, transport and treat the sewage from your business safely and sustainably.

As displayed on your bill, the calculation of the Sewerage Service charge is as follows:

Daily Price x Days Charged x Dwelling Count = Sewerage Service charge

Water Usage charges - are tiered to promote water efficiency, so the more you use, the more you pay.

Usage up to 822L per day (the daily equivalent to 300kL per annum) is charged at the Tier 1 price, and usage over 822L per day is charged at the Tier 2 price.

As such, the calculation of the Urban Utilities water usage charge is as follows:

Water Usage up to Tier 1 Threshold (kL) x Water Usage Tier 1 Price + Water Usage over Tier 1 Threshold (kL) x Water Usage Tier 2 Price = Urban Utilities Water Usage charge

We also collect variable bulk water charges on behalf of the State Government via our bills without any mark up. The State Bulk Water Charge is also charged on a per kilolitre basis (1kL = 1000L).

A single dwelling residential property in Brisbane uses 27 kilolitres of water is a 91-day meter reading period, equating to an average daily use of 300L per day. As this is below the 822L per day Water Usage Tier 2 threshold, no Tier 2 charges apply.

Charge Amount Price Calculation
Water Usage - Tier 1 (up to 822L per day) 27kL $0.838 per kL $0.838 x 27 = $22.62
Water Usage – Tier 2 (over 822L per day) 0kL $1.742 per kL $1.742 x 0 = $0.00
State Bulk Water Charge* 27kL $3.371 per kL $3.371 x 27 = $91.01
Water Services 91 days
 $0.647 per day $0.647 x 91= $58.87
Sewerage Services – Brisbane

91 days

 $1.795 per day $1.795 x 91 = $163.34
Total $335.84

*Set and controlled by the State Government. Urban Utilities passes it on to customers via their bills without any mark up.