When does he expect stormwater services to come under Commerce Commission regulation, and does that timeline affect his decision to exclude stormwater from the rates cap?

Answer

Stormwater is excluded from the rates cap because stormwater revenue and expenditure is ringfenced under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025. The Local Government (Water Services) Act makes provision for stormwater to be regulated. Whether stormwater is regulated is an operational matter for the Commerce Commission as the responsible regulator of water services providers.