Increasing water distribution rates in one or several municipalities

The process is designed for municipalities and operators that distribute water in Wallonia.

Regulating requests to increase rates guarantees fair and equitable pricing for all Walloon residents. As a neutral and independent organisation, we take into account the needs of operators as well as the economic reality for water consumers. The objective is to find the right balance in order to set rates at an acceptable level.

The procedure

1. you submit your application by email ;
2. once your application is complete, we will send you confirmation of receipt ;
3. we solicit the opinion of the Water Control Committee (WCC) and the SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (SPW ARNE) ;
4. we draft a decision proposal which is sent to the competent minister ;
5. the minister rules on the request ;
6. you receive the minister's decision by registered letter ;
7. we communicate the new pricing to you by the first day of its application at the latest.

The application may be completed in either French or German.

Analysis of the application

We analyse the application based on four key areas:

1. review of the current rate and the requested rate ;
2. analysis of the context indicators compared with previous years and compared with the situation of other distributors ;
3. review of compliance with legal obligations ;
4. analysis of the performance indicators and their development in relation to the targets defined as objectives to be achieved.

The decision

When the minister makes a decision by the prescribed deadline (60 days from receipt of the complete application), this is binding, meaning that you are required to comply with it. The authorised price is a maximum price that cannot be exceeded.

Once the application is complete, we have 60 days to give you the decision.

If no decision has been made by the prescribed deadline, you can apply the requested price increase.

Your application must contain the following items:

• identity of the applicant;
• the constituent element of the water price on which the increase is based;
• a detailed statement of the reasons for the increase accompanied by accounting documents, the five-year financial plan and the proposed trajectory drawn up by the operator;
• all data related to the annual reporting of indicators specific to the price regulation policy;
• where applicable, the ruling of the municipal council;
• a specimen invoice;
• the planned date for the increase.

• Loi du 22 janvier 1945 - Loi sur la règlementation économique et les prix
• Arrêté ministériel du 20 avril 1993 portant dispositions particulières en matière de prix

If you wish to contest the decision, you can contact the department that issued the decision and/or lodge an appeal with the Council of State.

In the event of proceedings for suspension or annulment before the Council of State, a request must be sent to the latter, either by registered letter (rue de la Science, 33, 1040 Brussels), or by electronic means. The petition for annulment must be lodged within 60 days of notification of the decision.

You can also contact:

• The competent minister.
• The services of the Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.