Smart Meter Enabled Disaggregation of Residential Peak Water Demand: Implications for Urban Water Planning and Tariff Reform

Abstract

The price of water to the urban consumer is one of the most politicised issues confronting state and federal legislators in Australia today. Water is an essential requirement of life and, arguably, there will always be a public sentiment that the price of water should not constitute an economic burden, least of all for those more economically disadvantaged members of society. As a result, and regardless of the "proper" underlying economic principles such as "user pays” and “full cost recovery”, there has always been a political willingness in Queensland, at both the state and local level, to continue with cross subsidies that distort the price of water. This has led to a political blame game amongst the major political parties that leaves the average consumer even more confused about the cost of water. Though the politics of water in Queensland may have seen the flight of rationality from public debate, the water industry itself has progressed substantially in recent years in securing a reliable future supply in South East Queensland (SEQ). On the supply side, important initiatives such as a desalination plant, dual reticulation schemes and provision for potable reuse have assured supply in SEQ for many years. The downside, however, is significant state debt and given the current public sensitivity to water pricing, passing this cost burden directly to the consumer is simply not on the agenda.Thesis (Masters)Master of Philosophy (MPhil)Griffith School of EngineeringScience, Environment, Engineering and TechnologyFull Tex

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