# Commerce Commission Rules Out Wellington Water Price Controls

> Commerce Commission says it won't step in to lower Wellington water bills for now.
- Title: Commerce Commission Rules Out Wellington Water Price Controls
- Summary: Commerce Commission says it won't step in to lower Wellington water bills for now. Commerce Commission confirms it will not regulate Wellington water prices…
- Keywords: wellington, commerce commission, tiaki wai, water bills, wellington mayor, price controls, politics, news, Commerce, Commission, Rules, Water
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/political/1922827/commerce-commission-confirms-it-will-not-step-in-to-keep-wellington-water-bills-down
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-14T23:47:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wellington, commerce commission, tiaki wai, water bills, wellington mayor, price controls, politics, news
## Commerce Commission confirms no price controls
Commerce Commission says it won't step in to keep Wellington water bills down right now.
## Water bills rising 13.3% this year
Water bills under agency Tiaki Wai are increasing by an average of 13.3 percent this year.
## Bills projected to exceed $6000 in a decade
Water bills are projected to reach over $6000 per year in a decade.
## Commission chair says affordability not within mandate
Commerce Commission chair John Small says affordability is not within the Commission's mandate.
## Tiaki Wai chief executive responds
Tiaki Wai chief executive Michael Brewster says households are stretched and water costs are rising.
## Key takeaway

Commerce Commission confirms it will not regulate Wellington water prices to keep bills down.