Urban Utilities will soon be making some small but important changes to how we bill customers in Brisbane, Ipswich and Scenic Rim. These changes will ultimately make it simpler for you to understand your bills, detect leaks and monitor your water usage.

We're making a few small but important changes:

  • From September 2020, we’re changing to a simpler, more efficient meter reading and billing schedule to shorten the time between when your water meter is read and your bill arrives. You’ll know how much water you’re using closer to when you’re using it, making it simpler to monitor your household usage and notice when it’s creeping up. You’ll also be able to detect hidden leaks on your property sooner, saving precious water, money and hassle.
  • Down the track, from February 2021, we’ll be making bills even simpler by switching services charges to arrears to align with water usage charges. After they switch, water and sewerage services charges will be calculated on a per-day basis. At the moment, they’re charged in advance and calculated on a per quarter basis

Once your transition to Simpler Billing is complete, bills will arrive days – not weeks – after meter readings, and all charges – water usage charges 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’ll gradually issue your bills earlier and earlier to shorten the time between when your meter is read and your bill arrives. Some customers in Brisbane and Scenic Rim will complete their transition earlier, in 2021, because their meter read to bill issue time was shorter before the transition. 

We’ll also be switching water and sewerage services charges from advance to arrears in February 2021 to align with water usage charges. We’ll remind you of this closer to when it happens.

Simpler Billing has no bearing on our 2020/21 water and sewerage prices, but it may affect your bills in the following ways:

  • Between September 2020 and February 2022, your bills may arrive a few days (4-14) earlier than usual. To make up for this, we’ll give you more time to pay them. For example, we’ll be extending the due date on your next two bills by 14 days.
  • Between February and May 2021, your bills may be lower than usual due to water and sewerage services charges switching to arrears. We’ll remind you of this change closer to when it happens.
  • From February 2021, water and sewerage services charges will be calculated on a per-day 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 the transition to Simpler Billing by early 2022.

Some customers in Brisbane and Scenic Rim will complete their transition earlier, in 2021, because their meter read to bill issue time was shorter to begin.

No. Simpler Billing has no bearing on our 2020/21 prices nor our six-month price freeze (until Thursday 31 December 2020).

During your transition (and after it) you’ll only ever pay for water and sewerage services you use. Any bills lower or higher than usual will either be due to timing 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 can arrive between 4 and 16 weeks after a water meter is read, depending on the location of a property.

To shorten this, we’re changing to a simpler, more efficient meter reading and billing schedule. You’ll know how much water you’re using closer to when you’re using it, making it simpler to monitor your household usage and notice when it’s creeping up. You’ll also be able to detect hidden leaks on your property sooner, saving precious water, money and hassle.
Once the transition to Simpler Billing is complete, your bill will arrive days – not weeks after your water meter is read. We’ll 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.