Between September 2020 and February 2022, we will be making some small but important changes to how we bill customers in Brisbane, Ipswich and Scenic Rim. Simpler Billing will ultimately make it simpler for you to read and understand your bills, detect leaks on your property sooner and monitor your water usage.

We are gradually changing to a simpler, more efficient meter reading and billing schedule to shorten the time between when your water meter is read and when your bill arrives. You will know how much water you are using closer to when you are using it, making it simpler for you to monitor your household usage and notice when it is creeping up. You will also be able to detect hidden leaks on your property sooner, saving precious water and money.

We are also switching water and sewerage services charges from being billed in advance to being billed in arrears to align with water usage charges. This means all the charges on your bill – water usage and water and sewerage services – will be for the same period in arrears, making them simpler to read and understand.

Once your Simpler Billing transition is complete, your bills will arrive days – not weeks – after your water meter readings, and all the charges on your bills – water usage and water and sewerage services – will be for the same period, in arrears. Simple!

We’re making these changes in response to customer feedback and insights. Customers in Somerset and Lockyer Valley transitioned to Simpler Billing back in April 2019 and their feedback was positive.

Simpler Billing will be implemented in small, gradual stages between September 2020 and February 2022.

During this period - your Simpler Billing transition - we will gradually issue your bills earlier and earlier to shorten the time between when your water meter is read and your bill arrives. Please note: some customers in Brisbane and Scenic Rim will complete their transition earlier, in 2021, because their meter read to bill issue time was shorter than other areas.

You may also notice your Feb/Mar 2021 bill is lower than usual as it has no services charges due. Why? Because you already paid for services in advance up to 31 March 2021 on your previous bills.

You may also notice your May/Jun 2021 bill is lower than usual. Why? Because its services charges period is shorter than usual - between 1 and 83 days shorter depending on when your water meter is read. A typical services charges period is 90 days. Yours will be shorter, so your May/Jun 2021 bill may be lower. Simple!

Simpler Billing has no bearing on our water and sewerage prices, but it may affect your bills in the following ways:

  • Your bills may arrive between 4-14 days earlier than usual between September 2020 and February 2022.
  • Your Feb/Mar and May/Jun 2021 bills may be lower than usual due to water and sewerage services charges switching to billed in arrears.
  • From February 2021, water and sewerage services charges will be calculated on a per day basis. Services charges were previously calculated on a per quarter basis.

During your Simpler Billing transition, we’ll be issuing your bills earlier than usual to gradually shorten the time between when your meter is read and your bill arrives.

How much earlier will change each billing cycle and depend on the location of your property. For example, it may be 14 days earlier in one cycle, eight in the next, four in the one after and so on.


All customers in Brisbane, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim will complete their Simpler Billing transition by February 2022.

Some customers in Brisbane and Scenic Rim will complete their transition earlier, in mid to late 2021, because their meter read to bill issue time is shorter than other areas. 

Simpler Billing has no bearing on our prices.

During your transition (and after it) you will only ever pay for water and sewerage services you use. Any bills lower or higher than usual will either be due to scheduling changes or a genuine decrease or increase in your water usage.


Yes. Simpler Billing has no impact on any existing subsidies and rebates, including the State Government Pensioner Water Subsidy.
Yes. Your next few bills may be issued earlier than usual, so your nominated account may be debited earlier than usual too. Please check the due date on all bills during your Simpler Billing transition (September 2020-February 2022) and ensure you have the funds available.

No. Simper Billing has no impact on any existing hardship or payment arrangements. Please continue to make your scheduled, agreed repayments.


Simpler Billing will apply to all customers in Brisbane, Ipswich and Scenic Rim, including commercial customers. Commercial customers in Somerset and Lockyer Valley transitioned to Simpler Billing April 2019 and the feedback was positive.

When we were formed in 2010, we inherited five different meter reading and billing schedules from five local councils, which we combined into one schedule. Under this schedule, bills arrived between four and 16 weeks after a water meter was read, depending on the location of a property.

Simpler Billing is about gradually changing to a simpler, more efficient meter reading and billing schedule, so bills arrive days - not weeks - after water meter readings.
Once your transition is complete, your bill will arrive days - not weeks - after your water meter is read. We will be issuing bills within a target average of seven days of meter reads.

Please don’t worry – just get in touch with us as soon as possible to discuss your situation. We have a range of assistance options for customers experiencing financial pressure, including interest-free payment extensions and payment plans.


We’re here to help and make your transition as simple as possible. We’re available 6am-9pm weekdays at simpler@urbanutilities.com.au, via web chat, Facebook or Twitter or 8am-6pm weekdays on our General Enquiries line 13 26 57.