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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 3521 ..

CHIEF MINISTER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

Question No 57

ACTEW - Community Service Obligations

MR STANHOPE - Asked the Chief Minister upon notice on 17 November 1998:

Can you outline the eight Community Service Obligations identified by the ACTEW Chairman in May 1996 as noted on page 27 of the Scoping Study on ACT Electricity and Water, supplementary report on Regulatory and Policy Issues.

MS CARNELL - The answer to the Member's question is as follows:

In May 1996 the Chairman of ACTEW identified the following as ACTEW's community service obligations:

. the provision of free water to the fire brigade through hydrants;

. the cost of fluoridating the water supply (but not the cost of the fluoride);

. the provision of additional flushing units (above 2) to schools, churches, hospitals, benevolent or charitable institutions at half the regular charge;

. the provision of water to schools, churches, ecclesiastical establishments at around half the regular charge;

. the exemption of charges for water or sewer rates for land granted a lease under the (since repealed) Church Land Leases Act 1924-32 (for leases granted until 15/1/95);

. the provision of pensioner rebates for electricity;

. the provision of pensioner rebates for water and sewerage; and

. the administration of the Pensioner Rebate Scheme.

The Government does not accept that the first two are community service obligations as any supplier of water would be required to supply them. In relation to fire hydrants, these are also used as a flushing mechanism for the water reticulation network. Consequently their use serves a valuable function for ACTEW. The remaining six CSOs are fully funded through the budget.

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