Regulated Asset Base (RAB)

Overview

In mid-2025, the Queensland Government set irrigation prices for 2025-26 and 2026-27. However, it postponed setting prices for 2027-28 and 2028-29 while it further considered a regulated asset base (RAB) methodology for renewals recovery. A review into RAB has now begun.

Sunwater will submit a proposal to the QCA in February 2026. This will inform irrigation prices for the period from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2029.

Read the transcript of the RAB animation.

Read the fact sheet for further information.

Information sessions

During November, Sunwater invited customers to online information sessions about the RAB Irrigation Price Review.

Sunwater also provided updates at Customer Advisory Committee meetings. We gathered valuable feedback from these sessions and are undertaking additional work in response. This includes:

• enhancing the online calculator with additional information
• developing new explanatory materials
• addressing specific questions and feedback raising during engagement sessions.

If you have questions or feedback about the RAB Irrigation Price Review, please contact us by email on customerengagement@sunwater.com.au or phone 13 15 89.

Survey

Irrigation customers will be sent a short survey in early 2026 seeking views on timeframe options for closing annuity balances if a RAB approach is adopted.

We are committed to making sure you have the information you need to respond with confidence to the survey question about timeframe options for closing annuity balances.

To help you understand how the RAB approach may impact pricing and inform responses to the survey, we have prepared an Irrigation Customer Invoice Calculator relevant to specific tariff groups in service contracts.