After Katowice, it was time for another large agglomeration – Poznan. Higher water and sewage prices. What instead?

Faced with rising infrastructure maintenance costs and the need for investment, Poznań, following in the footsteps of Katowice, is announcing higher water and sewage prices. The decision, made by Aquanet after waiting nearly two years for approval from the Polish Water Authority, introduces new tariffs to be in effect for the next three years, coming into effect before Christmas. The change means greater expenses for residents of Poznan and the surrounding areas. At what amount and what made the changes necessary?

Higher water and sewage prices after long negotiations with Polish Water

After nearly two years of efforts and negotiations, Aquanet, the local water supplier, has received permission from the Polish Water Authority to introduce new water and wastewater tariffs. The changes affect not only Poznan, but also the surrounding towns and municipalities, including Luboń, Puszczykowo, the city and municipality of Kórnik, the municipalities of Mosina, Suchy Las, Dopiewo, Rokietnica, Brodnica, Kostrzyn, as well as the municipalities participating in the Intermunicipal Union “Puszcza Zielonka” in Murowana Goślina, that is, the cities and municipalities of Murowana Goślina, Swarzędz, Czerwonak, Skoki and Pobiedziska.

This decision, which will take effect on December 19, 2023, is a response to the company’s difficult financial situation, which recorded losses of PLN 50 million in the last year. The new rates are to be in effect for three years, with another increase planned for December 2025. The process was prolonged because Waterways initially blocked the change in tariffs, which led to the Workers’ protest in February 2023. Failure to agree to change tariffs over this time has contributed to significant financial losses for Aquanet.

Higher water prices – how much will they increase?

In the first year of the new tariff, which will come into effect in a week, the averaged price for supplying 1 m³ of water will increase to PLN 5.82 gross, while the charge for 1 m³ of discharged wastewater will reach PLN 9.01 gross. This change represents a significant increase compared to the current rates, which are PLN 5.08 per m³ of water and PLN 7.68 per m³ of sewage.

Specifically, this means that Poznań residents will have to pay an additional PLN 0.74 for each cubic meter of water consumed and PLN 1.33 more for each cubic meter of sewage discharged. This increase, while seemingly small, could have a significant impact on monthly household budgets. For the average resident, who uses about 3 m³ of water per month, this means a gross cost increase of PLN 6.21 per month. In the case of a family of four, where water consumption is proportionally higher, monthly costs can increase by about. 25 zl.

The price hike, the supplier says, is aimed at ensuring the company’s financial stability, enabling it to continue providing quality services, and allowing it to perform tasks that previously had to be postponed due to the need to save money. However, for many residents of Poznań, this decision means having to adapt to new financial realities and a potential overhaul of household budgets.

New Billing System – a significant increase in the number of tariff groups

Aquanet, as part of its latest tariff changes, is also introducing a comprehensive overhaul of its billing system, particularly in the area of subscription fees. This change is significant because the number of tariff groups increases from five to as many as 47. This increase in the number of tariff groups is the result of a move toward a more individualized approach to billing that takes into account the diverse needs and preferences of customers. Aquanet’s new billing system takes into account factors such as the type of service provided, the billing period and the method of delivering the invoice to the customer, allowing the offer to be better tailored to individual requirements.

One of the key aspects of the new system is the introduction of lower subscription fees for customers who choose to use e-invoices. This solution aims not only to facilitate access to services, but also to promote green practices by reducing paper consumption. Subscription fees for e-invoice customers will be lower to reflect customer expectations and environmental concerns.

In addition, Aquanet has announced the introduction of new fees for exceeding established conditions for discharging industrial wastewater into the sewer system. This change is of particular importance to industrial plants, which will now be subject to stricter pricing regulations for wastewater discharge. Detailed information on the new tariffs and changes to the billing system will be available for review on Aquanet’s website starting December 19.

It looks like water and sewage price hikes in the near future, will not only affect large cities. According to information published on the websites of water and sewer companies, the Water Authority has begun to “unblock” tariffs and approve changes one by one. This means that even before Christmas we may be in for an increase.