Water Utility of the Future: Yarra Valley Water

Executive overview

Key findings

Net zero from 1 July 2025: Yarra Valley Water (YVW) states it reached net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2025-26, using 100% renewable electricity and Victorian carbon offsets

About 900,000 digital meters by mid-2032: target set in May 2026, with more than 50,000 installed

2.9 → 10 ML/day: new Aurora (Wollert) recycled water plant in early design with John Holland, commissioning expected around 2030

September 2027: 2028-33 price submission due to the Essential Services Commission, after a 40-member Citizens' Jury (August to December 2026)

Buyer relevance

Who the report is for

Digital metering and network analytics suppliers

Size the rollout from over 50,000 meters installed toward about 900,000 by mid-2032, and see which loss and demand targets the data must move.

Energy, bioenergy and hydrogen developers

Track the Lilydale ramp-up toward about 55,000 tonnes a year, the Wollert plant and the A$1.7 million hydrogen pilot with its conditional A$11.9 million next stage.

Engineering and construction firms in Melbourne's north and east

See the projects in design or construction, from the 10 ML/day Aurora recycled water plant to the Healesville upgrade, and who holds each contract.

Policy, regulatory and investor analysts

Follow the 2028-33 price review timeline from the Citizens' Jury to the June 2028 decision, with the FY2024-25 financial position behind it.

Decision scope

Questions answered

How far has Yarra Valley Water's digital meter rollout got?

More than 50,000 meters were installed by 19 May 2026, against a target of about 900,000 by mid-2032.

Has Yarra Valley Water reached net zero?

It states it reached net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 1 July 2025, with 100% renewable electricity and Victorian carbon offsets; its FY2024-25 emissions were 7,478 t CO2-e.

When will the new Aurora recycled water plant be ready?

It is in early design with John Holland, raising capacity from 2.9 to 10 ML/day, with commissioning expected around 2030.

When is the next price plan decided?

Yarra Valley Water submits its 2028-33 plan to the Essential Services Commission in September 2027; the final decision is due in June 2028.

What constrains the transition financially?

Cash interest cover fell to 1.83 times in FY2024-25 as finance costs reached A$193.8 million.

Inside the report

Inside the complete report

Executive Snapshot

1. From Service Provider to System Operator

2. System Intelligence and Digital Control

3. Energy, Carbon, and Resource Decoupling

4. Infrastructure Strategy for a Non-Stationary Climate

5. Customers, Demand, and the Water Prosumer

6. Governance, Regulation, and Institutional Reform

7. Capital Planning and Financial Architecture

8. Workforce, Capability, and Organisational Change

9. Strategic System Roadmap

Conclusion

Source Register

Public preview

What to watch next

2. System Intelligence and Digital Control

The installed count against the mid-2032 target; whether YVW reports loss reductions attributable to digital meters; and the metering budget proposed for 2028-33.

5. Customers, Demand, and the Water Prosumer

The jury's recommendations (recall session March 2027); 2026-27 household use and recycled water share; and the bill path proposed in June 2027.

7. Capital Planning and Financial Architecture

The capital program in the June 2027 draft plan; and any State rating change after the election.

9. Strategic System Roadmap

Publication of costs for Aurora and the metering program; the 2028-33 capital total and bill path; and annual installed-meter and Scope 3 figures against their dates.

Report page with tables of Yarra Valley Water capital program figures, financial indicators from FY2021-22 to FY2024-25, and its balance sheet and funding at 30 June 2025. — Sample page · page 11 of 17
Section 7: the 2023-28 capital program figures and the FY2021-22 to FY2024-25 financial indicators.

Included

What you receive

The complete PDF report: 17 pages, 12 sections, 19 tables and a register of 39 sources.

This edition

November 2026, First edition.

Evidence & method

Evidence and method

The report draws on Yarra Valley Water's audited annual reports and performance reports, its questionnaires to the Parliament of Victoria, Essential Services Commission price and outcome decisions, Melbourne Water and state water strategies, and Yarra Valley Water project releases and pages current to 10 November 2026.

Sources

39 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 10 November 2026. Principal data periods: FY2024-25 audited results (year ended 30 June 2025); 2025-26 outcome results (April 2025 to March 2026); program and project status to 10 November 2026. All currency is Australian dollars (A$)..

Evidence boundaries

This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.

Lead analyst

Robert C. Brears

Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence

Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.

Decision-focused utility intelligence
Published water-policy author
Evidence-grounded system analysis

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