{"id":"tas:act-2009-041","name":"Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Act 2009","slug":"water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"41 of 2009","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":31835,"registerId":"tas-act-2009-041-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Part 1 Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-041) .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> This Act commences on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> > (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –\n> > \n> > > ***billing period***, in relation to a customer of a regulated entity, means the period to which an account received by the customer from the regulated entity relates;\n> > \n> > > ***concession*** means a concession granted under [section 8](#GS8@EN) ;\n> > \n> > > ***concession amount***, for a billing period, has the meaning it has in [section 9(4)](#GS9@Gs4@EN) ;\n> > \n> > > ***eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling*** has the meaning it has in [section 5](#GS5@EN) ;\n> > \n> > > ***region*** means the northern region, the north-western region or the southern region;\n> > \n> > > [*\\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 51 of 2012, Sched. 2, Applied:01 Jul 2013\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-07-01/act-2012-051#JS2@Ja9@GC1@EN) ***relevant regulated entity*** means the Corporation within the meaning of the [Water and Sewerage Corporation Act 2012](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2012-051) ;\n> > \n> > > ***spouse***, in relation to a person, means a person who is married to the person or who is in a significant relationship, within the meaning of the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) , with the person;\n> > \n> > > ***statutory authority*** means a body or authority, whether incorporated or not, that is established or constituted under a written law of the Commonwealth or the State or under the royal prerogative.\n> \n> > (2)  Unless the contrary intention appears, an expression used in this Act has the same meaning as it has in the [Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2008-013) .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Concessions","content":"# Part 2 Concessions","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Effect of concession","content":"### 4 Effect of concession\n\n> > (1)  An eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling who is granted the concession is entitled to have the amount, for a billing period, of a relevant fixed charge that the customer is liable to pay to the entity in respect of that dwelling reduced by the concession amount for the billing period.\n> \n> > (2)  Despite [subsection (1)](#GS4@Gs1@EN) , if the amount of a fixed charge in respect of a dwelling only relates to a water service, or a sewerage service, in respect of that dwelling, but not both, the customer is only entitled to have the amount, of that fixed charge, that the customer is liable to pay reduced by half the concession amount for the billing period.\n> \n> > (3)  Nothing in this section is to be taken to entitle a person to have any part of the concession amount for a billing period carried over to any other billing period.\n> \n> > (4)  In this section –\n> > \n> > > ***fixed charge***, in relation to a dwelling, means a charge that is not calculated by reference to –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) the volume of water actually supplied to; or\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) the volume of sewage or waste actually removed from –\n> > > \n> > > the dwelling, but does not include any penalty or interest charges imposed on the person.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Eligibility for concession","content":"### 5 Eligibility for concession\n\n> > (1)  A person is an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling if the person –\n> > \n> > > > (a) is a member of a class of persons prescribed in the regulations to be eligible for the concession; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) occupies the dwelling as his or her principal place of residence; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) is a customer of the regulated entity in relation to the dwelling.\n> \n> > (2)  A person is an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling if the person –\n> > \n> > > > (a) is a member of a class of persons prescribed in the regulations to be eligible for the concession; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) resides in a prescribed institution; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) is a customer of a regulated entity in relation to the dwelling; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) does not receive rental income from the dwelling; and\n> > > \n> > > > (e) does not have a spouse, or if the person has a spouse, the spouse resides in a prescribed institution and does not receive rental income from the dwelling.\n> \n> > (3)  A person is an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling if the person –\n> > \n> > > > (a) is a member of a class of persons prescribed in the regulations to be eligible for the concession; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) resides in a prescribed institution; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) is a customer of a regulated entity in relation to the dwelling; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) has a spouse who occupies the dwelling as his or her principal place of residence.\n> \n> > (4)  A person is an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling if –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the person was, immediately before the death of another person, the spouse of the other person; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the other person was, immediately before his or her death, an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of the dwelling who had been granted the concession; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) the person occupies the dwelling as his or her principal place of residence; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) the person is a customer of the regulated entity in relation to the dwelling.\n> \n> > (5)  This section does not apply in relation to a person in respect of more than one dwelling.\n> \n> > (6)  At the end of the period of 2 years after a person who is eligible for the grant of the concession under [subsection (2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) is granted the concession, [subsections (2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) , respectively, cease to apply to the person.\n> \n> > (7)  [Subsection (4)](#GS5@Gs4@EN) does not apply to a person at the end of the period of 2 years after the person's spouse dies.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application for concession","content":"### 6 Application for concession\n\n> > (1)  An eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling may apply to the entity for the concession to be granted in relation to a water service or a sewerage service, or both, provided, or to be provided, in relation to the dwelling by the entity.\n> \n> > (2)  An application under [subsection (1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) to a regulated entity is to be –\n> > \n> > > > (a) in the manner and form required by the regulated entity; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) accompanied by the documents or information that the regulated entity reasonably requires.\n> \n> > (3)  Without limiting [subsection (2)(b)](#GS6@Gs2@Hpb@EN) , the information that may reasonably be required to accompany an application under [subsection (1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) by a person includes –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a number, or evidence of a card, that identifies the person for the purposes of another statutory authority of Tasmania or the Commonwealth; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) if [section 5(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) , [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) or [(4)](#GS5@Gs4@EN) applies to the person, a statutory declaration as to any of the matters specified in one of those subsections.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Billing period in which concession begins and ends","content":"### 7 Billing period in which concession begins and ends\n\n> > (1)  An eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling may make an application under [section 6(1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) at any time after he or she becomes a customer of the entity in relation to the dwelling.\n> \n> > (2)  A concession granted to an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling applies to the customer –\n> > \n> > > > (a) for each day, in the billing period in which the concession was granted to the customer by the regulated entity, that occurs after the day on which the concession was granted; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) for each day in a billing period, after the billing period referred to in [paragraph (a)](#GS7@Gs2@Hpa@EN) , that is a billing period in which the customer was, for part or all of the period, an eligible customer of the regulated entity in respect of the dwelling.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Grant of concessions","content":"### 8 Grant of concessions\n\n> > (1)  A regulated entity that receives from a person an application for a concession under [section 6(1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) must, within 21 days, by notice to the person, determine the application. \n> \n> > (2)  [Subsection (1)](#GS8@Gs1@EN) only applies to a regulated entity in relation to an application from a person, if the entity has obtained from the person all the information it requires to determine the application.\n> \n> > (3)  The regulated entity is to determine the application from the person –\n> > \n> > > > (a) by granting the concession to the person, if the entity is satisfied the person is an eligible customer of the regulated entity in respect of the dwelling to which the application relates; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) by refusing to grant the concession to the person, if the entity is not satisfied the person is an eligible customer of the regulated entity in respect of the dwelling to which the application relates.\n> \n> > (4)  Only one eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling may be granted a concession in respect of a dwelling.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Concession rate","content":"### 9 Concession rate\n\n> > (1)  The regulations must prescribe an amount in dollars to be the base amount for regulated entities for each financial year.\n> \n> > (2)  The regulations may prescribe a percentage amount by which the base amount for regulated entities under [subsection (1)](#GS9@Gs1@EN) is to be increased or decreased for a financial year.\n> \n> > (3)  If the regulations prescribe a percentage amount by which the base amount for regulated entities is to be increased or decreased for a financial year then, despite [subsection (1)](#GS9@Gs1@EN)  –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the base amount for regulated entities for that financial year is increased or decreased in accordance with that percentage amount; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the base amount for regulated entities for each subsequent financial year is the base amount for the previous year, as increased or decreased, if at all, for that subsequent financial year under [paragraph (a)](#GS9@Gs3@Hpa@EN) .\n> \n> > (4)  The concession amount for a billing period in respect of a regulated entity is, for each day, within the billing period, for which the concession applies in accordance with [section 7](#GS7@EN) , the amount equal to 1/365th of the base amount for the regulated entity for the financial year.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulated entities to be notified when person ceases to be eligible for concession","content":"### 10 Regulated entities to be notified when person ceases to be eligible for concession\n\n> > (1)  A person who –\n> > \n> > > > (a) is an eligible customer of a regulated entity in respect of a dwelling; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) has been granted a concession by the regulated entity –\n> > \n> > must not fail, without reasonable excuse, to notify the entity within 21 days of ceasing to be an eligible customer of the entity in respect of a dwelling.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  2 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  A notification under [subsection (1)](#GS10@Gs1@EN) to a regulated entity is to be made in the manner approved by the regulated entity.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Offence of giving false information &c.","content":"### 11 Offence of giving false information &c.\n\n> A person must not, in giving any information under this Act –\n> \n> > > (a) make a statement knowing it to be false or misleading; or\n> > \n> > > (b) omit any matter from a statement knowing that without that matter the statement is false or misleading.\n> \n> Penalty:  2 penalty units.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Notice of concession to be placed on accounts","content":"### 12 Notice of concession to be placed on accounts\n\n> > (1)  A regulated entity must include, in a notice charging a customer an amount for a regulated service provided by the regulated entity, a statement that concessions are available for eligible customers.\n> \n> > (2)  A regulated entity must include, on each account sent to a customer of the entity that indicates that a concession is applicable to the customer, the statement \"The concession on this account is being paid for by the State Government\".","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulated entity may require repayment","content":"### 13 Regulated entity may require repayment\n\n> > (1)  A regulated entity, by written notice to a person granted the concession under this Act, may require the person to repay to the entity an amount that the person would have, but for the concession, been required to pay to the entity.\n> \n> > (2)  A regulated entity may only require a person to repay an amount that the person would have, but for the concession, been required to pay to the entity, if the person was not entitled to the concession in respect of the amount.","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Reimbursement of Regulated Entities","content":"# Part 3 Reimbursement of Regulated Entities","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Reimbursement by State of regulated entities","content":"### 14 Reimbursement by State of regulated entities\n\n> > (1)  For the purposes of this section, an amount is foregone by a relevant regulated entity if the amount has not been payable to the entity because of concessions granted to customers of the entity.\n> \n> > (2)  A relevant regulated entity may, after 30 June, and 31 December, in a year, apply to the Treasurer for reimbursement of an amount foregone by the entity during the 6-month period ending 30 June or 31 December, respectively, in that year.\n> \n> > (3)  An application under [subsection (2)](#GS14@Gs2@EN) is to contain the information required by the Treasurer from time to time.\n> \n> > (4)  If the Treasurer is satisfied that a relevant regulated entity has foregone an amount specified in an application made by the entity under [subsection (2)](#GS14@Gs2@EN) , the Treasurer must pay the amount to the regulated entity.","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Part 4 Miscellaneous","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Status of instruments under this Act","content":"### 15 Status of instruments under this Act\n\n> Unless the contrary intention appears, a notice under this Act is not a statutory rule for the purposes of the [Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1953-050) .","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Regulations","content":"### 16 Regulations\n\n> > (1)  The Governor may make regulations for the purposes of this Act.\n> \n> > (2)  Without limiting the generality of [subsection (1)](#GS16@Gs1@EN) , the regulations may prescribe matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for the purposes of this Act.\n> \n> > (3)  The regulations may be made so as to apply differently according to such factors as are specified in the regulations.","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Administration of Act","content":"### 17 Administration of Act\n\n> Until provision is made in relation to this Act by order under [section 4 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-004#GS4@EN) [Administrative Arrangements Act 1990](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1990-004)  –\n> \n> > > (a) the administration of this Act is assigned to the Treasurer; and\n> > \n> > > (b) the department responsible to the Treasurer in relation to the administration of this Act is the Department of Treasury and Finance.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transitional provisions","content":"### 18 Transitional provisions\n\n> > (1)  In this section –\n> > \n> > > ***automatically eligible person*** means a person who was, immediately before 1 July 2009 –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) an eligible pensioner under the [Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1991-008) ; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) a person in respect of whom an application under that Act was granted and was in force; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (c) a person to whom a water service or a sewerage service was provided by a council in respect of the dwelling to which the application relates;\n> > \n> > > ***commencement day*** means the day on which this section comes into force.\n> \n> > (2)  A council in a regional area must, within 30 days after the commencement day, notify each regulated entity established in the region of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the names and addresses of all persons who had paid, or were liable to pay, to the council rates in respect of a water service or a sewerage service for the 2008-2009 financial year and who were, immediately before 1 July 2009, automatically eligible persons; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) any other relevant information that is held in respect of those persons by the council and that the councils are requested by an entity to provide to the entity.\n> \n> > (3)  On and from the commencement day, an automatically eligible person to whom [section 5(1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , [(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) applies who is a customer of a regulated entity in relation to a dwelling is to be taken to be, and to have been from 1 July 2009 –\n> > \n> > > > (a) an eligible customer of the regulated entity in respect of the dwelling under [section 5(1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , [(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) respectively; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a person who has been granted the concession under this Act because the person was eligible under [section 5(1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , [(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) , as the case may be.\n> \n> > (4)  Despite [subsection (3)](#GS18@Gs3@EN) , a person to whom that subsection applies ceases to be an eligible customer of the regulated entity in respect of the dwelling under [section 5(1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , [(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) if [section 5(1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) , [(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) , respectively, ceases to apply to the person.\n> \n> > (5)  Despite [section 5(6)](#GS5@Gs6@EN) , a person who has, under [subsection (3)](#GS18@Gs3@EN) , been granted the concession under this Act because the person was eligible under [section 5(2)](#GS5@Gs2@EN) or [(3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) is not entitled to the concession after he or she has received the concession, or a remission of rates or charges under [section 4](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1991-008#GS4@EN) of the [Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1991-008) , or a combination of both, for 2 consecutive years.\n> \n> > (6)  A regulated entity, within 60 days after the commencement day, must in writing inform each automatically eligible person of whom the entity is notified under [subsection (2)](#GS18@Gs2@EN) that the person has been granted the concession under this Act.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"Part 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Consequential Amendment of  Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Regulations 2004","content":"# Part 5 Consequential Amendment of  Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Regulations 2004","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Principal Regulations","content":"### 19 Principal Regulations\n\n> In this Part, the [Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Regulations 2004](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2004-141) are referred to as the Principal Regulations.\n\n*\n\n**20.**   \n\n> The amendment effected by this section has been incorporated into the authorised version of the [Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Regulations 2004](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2004-141) .\n\n*","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"20.","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### 20.\n\n> The amendment effected by this section has been incorporated into the authorised version of the [Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Regulations 2004](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2004-141) .","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amendment of regulation not to constrain future regulations","content":"### 21 Amendment of regulation not to constrain future regulations\n\n> The amendment of [regulation 5](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2004-141#GS5@EN) of the Principal Regulations effected by [section 20](#GS20@EN) does not prevent the amendment or rescission of that regulation by a subsequent regulation.","sortOrder":25}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"On its face the Act establishes a concession regime and expressly preserves prior beneficiaries by treating certain ‘automatically eligible’ persons as granted the concession (s18). The Act delegates key scope elements—eligible classes and the base amount—to regulations (s5, s9), so the statute itself neither clearly expands nor narrows scope; final scope depends on subsequent regulations."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple eligibility pathways, special rules for residents of prescribed institutions and surviving spouses, and 2‑year limits on some entitlements (s5)","Application, evidentiary and timing requirements placed on customers and regulated entities (s6, s8, s7)","Concession amount calculation tied to an annual base amount set by regulation and adjustable by percentage (s9)","State reimbursement process requiring application and Treasurer satisfaction (s14)","Compliance obligations and low‑level criminal penalties for false information and failure to notify (s10, s11)","Transitional carry‑over of prior local government remission beneficiaries and notification duties for councils and entities (s18)","Broad delegation to regulations for eligibility classes, amounts and differential application, creating implementation uncertainty until regulations issued (s5, s9, s16)","Cross-references to other Acts and terms defined elsewhere (e.g. Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008, Water and Sewerage Corporation Act 2012) increasing interpretive layering (s3)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act creates a statutory concession scheme requiring regulated water and sewerage providers to reduce specified fixed charges for eligible residential customers. The concession is calculated pro rata from an annual base amount and applies to billing periods while eligibility lasts.\n\nRegulations decide who is eligible and the base amount; customers apply to their provider, providers must decide applications, may seek State reimbursement for amounts foregone, and can recover improper concessions. Penalties apply for false statements or failing to notify loss of eligibility."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears consistent with its original intent. It was enacted in 2009 to establish a concession scheme for water and sewerage services following the restructuring of Tasmania's water industry. The amendments noted (particularly the 2012 amendment updating the 'relevant regulated entity' definition) reflect technical updates to align with subsequent legislation (the Water and Sewerage Corporation Act 2012) rather than scope expansion. The Act remains focused on its core purpose: providing financial concessions for essential water services and reimbursing providers."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping eligibility pathways in section 5 (four distinct subsections with different conditions for principal residence vs. institutional residence vs. deceased spouse scenarios)","Time-limited eligibility provisions (2-year caps in sections 5(6), 5(7), and 18(5)) creating conditional expiration logic","Dependent definitions — 'concession amount' and 'eligible customer' are defined by reference to other sections rather than standalone definitions","Incorporation by reference to external legislation (Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008, Water and Sewerage Corporation Act 2012, Relationships Act 2003, Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991)","Regulation-dependent operation — critical operational details (base dollar amounts, percentage adjustments, prescribed classes of eligible persons, prescribed institutions) are left to subordinate regulations not contained in the Act itself","Transitional provisions in section 18 creating parallel eligibility tracks for pre-existing concession recipients ('automatically eligible persons') with modified time limits","Pro-rata calculations required for partial services (section 4(2)) and daily rate calculations (section 9(4))","Administrative machinery including 21-day decision deadlines, notification requirements, and offence provisions for false information"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act creates a **financial concession scheme** (a discount system) to help certain Tasmanians pay their water and sewerage bills. It reduces the fixed charges (flat fees, not usage-based charges) that eligible customers owe to water and sewerage companies.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Eligible customers**: People who meet specific criteria — generally low-income households, pensioners, or people in prescribed institutions (like aged care or disability facilities). The exact groups are defined in regulations (separate rules made under this Act).\n- **Regulated entities**: Water and sewerage corporations that must grant these concessions and can later claim reimbursement from the State Government for the money they \"forgo\" (lose) by giving these discounts.\n- **The Tasmanian Government**: Which funds the scheme by reimbursing water companies for the concession amounts.\n\n**Key mechanics:**\n\n- Customers apply to their water company for the concession. The company must decide within 21 days.\n- The concession reduces **fixed charges** (standard service fees) by a daily rate calculated from an annual \"base amount\" set in regulations.\n- If a customer only has water OR sewerage (not both), they get half the concession amount.\n- The concession cannot be carried over to future billing periods — it's use-it-or-lose-it for each period.\n- Water companies must tell customers on bills that concessions exist, and must state that \"The concession on this account is being paid for by the State Government.\"\n- Companies can demand repayment if someone wrongly received a concession.\n\n**Special situations covered:**\n\n- **Spouses of deceased recipients**: A surviving spouse can continue receiving the concession for up to 2 years after their partner's death, provided they live in the same home.\n- **People in institutions**: Special rules apply for those living in prescribed facilities (like nursing homes), with a 2-year limit on concessions in most cases.\n- **Automatic transition**: People already receiving rate remissions (discounts) under an older local government scheme before 1 July 2009 were automatically transferred into this new system.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis is Tasmania's mechanism for ensuring vulnerable households can afford essential water and sewerage services. It shifts the cost burden from low-income households to the State Government, while requiring water companies to administer the scheme and be reimbursed later. It replaced an older system where local councils provided these concessions, reflecting the 2008 restructuring of Tasmania's water and sewerage industry into regional corporations."},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, the Act appears to remain focused on its original purpose: establishing a mechanism for compensating water and sewerage industry entities for community service obligations. No significant scope expansion or contraction is evident from the information provided, though amendments have been made since original enactment."},"complexity_factors":["Involves an interplay between regulatory, commercial, and government funding frameworks","Requires understanding of utility economics and what constitutes a 'community service obligation'","Limited legislative text was provided — the full Act may contain more complex administrative and compliance provisions","Intersects with broader water industry regulation in Tasmania, requiring cross-referencing with other Acts","Government payment/subsidy mechanisms can involve complex eligibility and calculation rules"],"plain_english_summary":"This Tasmanian law lets the government compensate water and sewerage companies when they are required to provide services that aren’t commercially viable — so utilities can keep offering subsidised or universally priced services in regional, remote, or vulnerable communities. \n\nIt affects Tasmanian customers who rely on affordable services, the water companies that are reimbursed for losses, and taxpayers who fund the compensation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009","history":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-and-sewerage-industry-community-service-obligation-act-2009/documents"}}