Contracts

Customers of the Scheme must:

• be legal entities with whom SA Water can enter into a legally-binding Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme Water Contract
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• have a well-advanced project proposal to be located within the footprint area of the Scheme.

Water from the Scheme is not open to speculative water traders. SA Water will treat all Project Proposals as Strictly Commercial in Confidence. SA Water has internal policies and procedures to protect the privacy and business interests of all customers, including project proponents.

Pricing

Long-term water contracts are for the life of the Scheme (45+ years).

• Capital contribution
  A one-off contribution that enables connection to the scheme, indicative cost $3.55/kL (2023–24). Arrangements can be made to pay an equivalent amount over time.
• Availability charge
  Annual charge based on contracted water volumes, indicative cost $0.289/kL (2023-24).
• Consumption charge
  Annual charge based on actual water volumes, indicative cost $0.30/kL (2023–24).
• Indexation
  Annual price indexation linked to the All Groups Consumer Price Index for the life of the Scheme (45+ years). This creates price stability and quarantines scheme participants from any unexpected increase in costs such as electricity. After 45 years, charges will transition to a pricing framework overseen by Essential Services Commission of South Australia, the state’s independent utility regulator.

Contract exit can be triggered at 15 and 30 years, exercisable by water customers.

Water rights and water trading

Water is fully tradeable within the Scheme. Long-term water contracts can be sold by private treaty or made available to other scheme participants as temporary annual or multi-annual entitlements.

Permanent and temporary water transfers are subject to the provisions of the Water Industry Act 2012. Approval by SA Water is subject to system capacity.